Disclaimer for the entire story: I own nothing. Well, I guess I technically own Dawn and Charles (who you'll meet later), but I'm not so sure I want them. You'll see why if you read. ;)
A/N: Okay, okay, so I'm sure most of you are looking at this and wondering if I've lost my mind starting a new story when I have three I'm already working on. But I got this idea for a Halloween-related story that just wouldn't leave me alone, so I knew I had to write it. It was originally going to be a oneshot , but as I thought about it I ended up coming up with a backstory that I really wanted to write. What started out as a Halloween oneshot has become more of a story about Kelsi finding her long missing backbone (as you might of guessed from the title). I'm pretty positive that will be end up having five chapters, total. So it's kind of a mini-story, if you will. I sort of kept this in line with the movies, but I also changed some things. You'll see what as we go along. The story itself takes place during their second year at Julliard and they're still a couple. Normally I would wait to post yet another story, but considering that tomorrow is Halloween (for everyone who celebrates Halloween, that is), I decided that I'd just go ahead and get it posted, especially since it's not a drawn out story like my others. Rest assured, I have NOT forgotten about my other stories. I plan to dive back into those ASAP (LP and LN specifically, though I'm also hoping to break my TYS block soon too). This story is coming along really fast for me and I'm pretty certain I can have it done within a week. At least that's the goal. So yeah...Happy Halloween Ryelsi fans! Hope you like this little sub-project I've thrown together within the last couple of days. As always, let me know!
"I found it!" Kelsi Nielson nearly levitated at the sound of Sharpay Evans triumphant cry, mentally chiding herself for being so jumpy. "The perfect Halloween costume for you!" Kelsi winced nervously in anticipation as Sharpay came rushing towards her from the other row of costumes, her brown eyes glowing with excitement. Her hands were behind her at the moment, hiding the costume from Kelsi's view. "Ryan is going to die when he sees you in this! I mean it, he's going to have a heart attack and drop dead right on the spot. It'll be fabulous!"
"You think your brother dying would be fabulous?" Kelsi managed, trying to peer around Sharpay and wondering for probably the hundredth time if it had been a wise choice to let Sharpay of all people pick her Halloween costume.
"Oh, you know what I mean." Sharpay rolled her eyes. "You're going to look gorgeous! Close your eyes," she ordered.
"Sharpay," Kelsi began, but trailed off at the look of warning in her eyes. "Okay, okay," she muttered, closing her eyes obediently. Sharpay had assured her that she now thought of Kelsi as a friend, but the years of being pretty much completely terrified of her had taken their toll. Kelsi often found herself worrying that she was going to do something to cause the ever familiar wrath of Sharpay to come rising to the surface once more.
"Could you try not to look so scared, Kelsi?" Sharpay asked, her voice laced with sarcasm. "I mean, honestly, it's not like I'm going to present you with a chicken suit or anything like that. Ugh." Sharpay wrinkled her nose as she happened to spot a chicken costume conveniently hung up nearby. "Why would anyone want to dress up like poultry? So unflattering." She shook her head in disgust before bringing her attention back to the issue at hand. She flung the costume out from behind her back and shook it out briefly, grinning at it. "This is going to be so great," she exclaimed, sounding delighted with herself. "Open your eyes!" Kelsi obeyed, albeit slowly...first opening one eye and then the other.
"You have got to be kidding." Kelsi felt her eyes widen in horror as she took in the costume...a costume which seemed to be lacking in terms of material, as far as Kelsi was concerned. "You...you want me..." she sputtered, her eyes flickering anxiously between Sharpay's face and the costume. "You want me to wear that!?"
"No, Kelsi," Sharpay said slowly, speaking to her like she might speak to a toddler. "I just spent the last twenty minutes searching for a costume that I have no intention of you actually wearing." Another eye roll. "Of course I want you to wear this!"
"But...but...isn't that a little skimpy?" Kelsi asked timidly.
"Oh please." Sharpay dismissed the question with a casual wave of her hand. "Have you seen some of the costumes in this place? This is nothing."
"Are you kidding?" Kelsi squeaked. She gestured to a Maid Marion costume hanging up beside her. "This is nothing and this is so much more...so much more me."
"It's pretty," Sharpay acknowledged. "If you were performing in a stage production of Robin Hood." A third eye roll. "But this is Halloween we're talking about here and Halloween is all about fantasy."
"Fantasy." Kelsi repeated. "What if my fantasy was to be Maid Marion?" she challenged.
"Kelsi, Kelsi, Kelsi," Sharpay shook her head as she spoke, her eyes appraising the smaller woman in a pitying kind of way. "Sweet, innocent Kelsi." She reached out a hand to pat Kelsi's shoulder sympathetically. "You called me in a panic, practically begging me to come rushing off to New York to help you pick out the perfect Halloween costume." She lifted the outfit she was holding. "A costume that would knock my brother's socks off and put that awful Dawn person in her place. And did I or did I not..." She trailed off, watching Kelsi's eyes narrow as they focused in on something Sharpay couldn't see. "What?"
"Speak of the she-devil herself," Kelsi muttered. "She just walked in."
"She did?" Sharpay spun around, taking note of a college aged girl with bright reddish blonde hair standing just inside the store and looking around. The girl was about Sharpay's height and was skinny with sharp facial features. Sharpay let out an amused huff as she studied her. "Her? That's the girl that wants to steal Ryan from you?"
"Dawn Jenkins." Kelsi shook her head, feeling her blood begin to boil at the mere sight of the girl. "Otherwise known as the spawn of Satan."
"Geez, Kelsi, why don't you tell me how you really feel about her?" Sharpay teased, a surprised giggle escaping her at Kelsi's words. "In all the years I've known you, I have never seen this side of you."
"I know...I'm being childish," Kelsi admitted, flashing Sharpay a sheepish smile. "I don't know what it is about her. I mean...I've come across people I didn't like before, but I have never met someone that irritated me so much. It's like seeing her turns me into this completely different person...I don't understand it."
"She's trying to take your man," Sharpay said simply. "I'd say that justifies you hating her guts." She let out a sarcastic huff. "Of course, her wannabe designer clothes and cheaply dyed hair don't really help." She tilted her head as she watched the other girl. "Let this be a lesson to you, Kelsi. If you ever choose to color your hair, make sure that the color you pick compliments your skin tone. Otherwise, you could end up looking like that." She pursed her lips as Kelsi softly giggled. "And don't get me started on her makeup. Ugh. It looks like a clown exploded all over her face."
"Nice one," Kelsi chuckled, amused.
"I try," Sharpay grinned, her eyes narrowing mischievously as the other girl looked over at them. "I think we're about to have company."
"Oh wonderful," Kelsi muttered. "I may be catty towards her when she's not around, but every time she is I turn back into the same ole spineless Kelsi I've always been. It's so easy for her to push me around," she sighed.
"We really have to work on that," Sharpay decided. "You shouldn't give her the satisfaction of letting her get to you."
"I'd love to," Kelsi nodded. "But right now it looks like we're running out of time." Sure enough, Dawn Jenkins began slowly making her way towards them, a smirk slowly appearing on her face. "She'll just push me around like usual."
"Well, maybe she can push you around when you're by yourself, but you're forgetting something very important," Sharpay said, her voice somehow sounding both light and dangerous.
"What's that?" Kelsi asked.
"You have something that she does not. Me." Sharpay grinned in anticipation. "And no one ever pushes me around."
"You can say that again," Kelsi mumbled.
"Kelsi, darling." Kelsi winced at the sound of Dawn's voice, though she was amused to watch Sharpay's eyes widen at the sound of it. Dawn possessed a very high pitched almost baby-like voice. "What a surprise to find you here. Picking out a costume for the party?" Kelsi watched as Dawn's smirk deepened. "Oh my gosh!" she gasped in what Kelsi was sure was fake excitement. "I have the perfect costume for you! You could go to the party as a cow!" She trailed her eyes over Kelsi, her expression turning mean. "It would certainly be appropriate...especially considering that you could stand to look a few pounds. I mean, have you looked in the mirror lately? Ouch."
"Why you no-good..." Sharpay began before trailing off to clear her throat. When she spoke again her voice was sweet, deceptively so. "I mean...I don't believe we've met." She flashed Dawn a fake smile as she held a hand out. "I'm a good friend of Kelsi's...we go way back. What's your name?"
"I'm Dawn...Dawn Jenkins," Dawn said, seeming to take Sharpay's appearance in for the first time since making her way over. "And you are?"
"Oh, that's right. Silly me," Sharpay let out a short laugh and turned to Kelsi. "I almost forgot." She flashed Kelsi a wink before continuing. "I'm Sharpay...Sharpay Evans."
"Evans?" Dawn's eyes lit up with recognition. "Are you...are you related to Ryan Evans, by any chance?"
"I'm his twin," Sharpay confirmed.
"Oh! It is so nice to meet you!" Dawn gushed, shaking Sharpay's hand enthusiastically. "Your brother is so talented...not to mention gorgeous."
"Well, good looks run in the family," Sharpay nodded, yanking her hand free of Dawn's grasp and making a show of wiping it on her top. "Same with talent."
"I can't believe that I'm actually getting to meet Ryan's sister. He talks about his family a lot. Family seems to be very important to him."
"It is," Sharpay nodded.
"I so admire that in a man." Dawn stepped closer to Sharpay, managing to discreetly push Kelsi back a few steps...at least, it would have been seen as discreet to a casual observer, but Sharpay found herself barely holding back an eye roll. "A love of family is one of the most important qualities I look for in a boyfriend...or a husband." Dawn flashed Kelsi a mocking smile. "Actually, to be perfectly honest, Sharpay...there's a lot of things I look for in a man and your brother happens to have all of them."
"Ryan is a catch, I agree. Again...that runs in the family," Sharpay managed, struggling not to lose her temper...at least not right at that moment.
"And if I can continue being so honest with you..." Dawn trailed off, waiting for Sharpay's encouragement to go on.
"Oh, please do," Sharpay said kindly.
"If you ask me, it's only a matter of time before Ryan realizes that he and I would be perfect together. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if I end up spending the holiday season with you and your lovely family," Dawn said boldly. "I can't wait to get to know you all."
"I can," Sharpay replied. "Listen, Donna, was it?"
"Dawn," Dawn corrected.
"Donna, Dawn....whatever." Sharpay waved her hand to indicate that she didn't really care. "As I'm sure you are aware, my brother happens to have a girlfriend. Remember Kelsi?"
"Oh, please," Dawn laughed. "Like Ryan could ever be serious about her. She may have been good for him back while they were still in high school, but we're in college now. It's a time to grow and expand your horizons. Ryan's not going to remain interested in her once he sees how much the world has to offer him. And by the world I mean me. Sharpay...there are so many things I can introduce him to that she can't."
"Like what, an STD?" Sharpay quipped, causing Dawn's jaw to drop. "Look, darling, my brother is and has always been a man of impeccable taste. He has always known exactly what he wants and knows how to go about finding those things. The more important something is to him, the more he goes after it and you can rest assured that once he gets what he wants - and believe me, he pretty much always gets what he wants – he holds onto it. He does whatever it takes to keep it and take care of it. Whether it is a possession, a career," Sharpay glanced at Kelsi, her expression softening "or a person and it might be of interest to you to note that he knew he wanted Kelsi from the first second he laid eyes on her. Over four years ago." She let out a sarcastic laugh. "And believe me, he has no intention of letting her go. You don't have a chance."
"Oh, I beg to differ," Dawn shot back, though it was easy to tell that Sharpay's words had shaken her up. "She's the one without a chance. Because once I show up to that p-party wearing...wearing..." Her eyes lit up as she spotted a costume and yanked it off the wall. "Wearing this." Kelsi winced as she took in the outfit Dawn now held in her hands – a very skimpy French maid costume. "Once Ryan sees me in this, he's going to forget all about Kelsi and her thick thighs. He's going to see me wearing this and it's going to be impossible for him to keep his hands off me." She grinned wickedly. "Especially since I'm sure he's feeling pretty frustrated considering who he's dating." She studied Kelsi, her expression growing meaner by the second. "I bet you never even kissed a guy before dating Ryan...am I right?"
"N-no," Kelsi stammered. "I...I dated someone before Ryan."
"You did?" Dawn lifted her eyebrows in surprise, taking a moment to let that bit of information sink in before her smirk reappeared. "Tell me something, Kelsi, why did you and that other guy break up?"
"He was a no-good piece of garbage," Sharpay spoke up, growing more angry by the second. "He cheated on her and she dumped his sorry butt, just like any smart woman would."
"He cheated," Dawn nodded, knowingly. "You know one the main reasons men cheat, Kelsi? Probably the main reason?" She plowed into the answer before Kelsi could respond. "It's because the woman their dating refuses to put out, that's why. My guess is that he wanted to sleep with you..." She trailed off, chuckling. "Why, I have no idea...desperation maybe...but, yeah, I bet he wanted to sleep with you and you told him no. So he got it somewhere else. Am I right?"
"Leave her alone," Sharpay snapped.
"Am I right?" Dawn repeated, ignoring Sharpay. "Come on, you can admit it. I think we all know the truth anyway. Am I right?" Kelsi sighed, hating the way her eyes filled with tears as Dawn repeated her question for the third time. "Well?"
"Y-yes," Kelsi whispered.
"Just what I thought." Dawn shook her head, clearly proud with herself. "You're a prude." Dawn pursed her lips. "Or maybe it's more that you're a tease. You know...you start giving a guy what he wants with no intention of following through." She let out a harsh laugh. "Not that you'd know what to do anyway...maybe it's better than you hold out. You know...better to lead him on and think he's missing out on something great rather then agree to go all the way without knowing what to do to, well, satisfy him accordingly. Men deserve better than that, you know. Ryan deserves better than that. He's figure that out soon enough."
"That's enough," Sharpay growled. "My brother happens to be in love with Kelsi and that is exactly how he'll stay. You know why? It's because Ryan knows the difference between class and trash. Kelsi is all class and you..." Sharpay smirked mockingly. "You are a nothing more than a cheap, phony piece of trash with a bad dye job. You're out of your league, Donna."
"My name is Dawn!" Dawn protested.
"You say that like I actually care," Sharpay snickered before turning her attention to Kelsi, her face falling slightly at the look that was on her friend's face. "I have no interest in you, Donna, and neither does my brother. It's like I told you: he's in love with Kelsi. He gets more pleasure from simply holding her hand than he would if he were to spend an entire night with a tramp like you. And besides..." She turned her focus back to Dawn. "My brother prefers brunettes. Not...whatever your natural hair color is." She shuddered. "I mean, seriously...next time you dye your hair, try to make sure that it doesn't clash with your face. This," Sharpay gestured to Dawn's hair, "is just bad...on so many levels. And please, there are things called mirrors. Try using one when you apply your makeup, okay? Just a thought," she smirked. "Unless, of course, you like looking like Bozo the clown's streetwalking daughter."
"I beg your pardon?!" Dawn gasped, outraged.
"Sorry...I'm all out of pardons at the moment. Try me again never, okay? Now do us both a favor and find someone else to terrorize, would you? Kelsi has a Halloween costume to try on and I...well, looking at you is starting to make my eyes hurt..." Sharpay admitted.
"I...you...I..." Dawn sputtered.
"I think the circus is coming to town," Sharpay added. "You should try out. Between your hair and your makeup, not to mention your hideous wardrobe, you're a shoo-in!"
"There is nothing wrong with my clothes," Dawn muttered through clenched teeth.
"Yeah...right." Sharpay drew the second word out slowly. "Those shoes with those pants? Please. And don't get me started on that purse...heck, my dog has better accessories."
"How dare you..." Dawn growled, annoyed when Sharpay casually waved her off and turned her focus back to Kelsi.
"Here," Sharpay said softly, shoving the outfit into Kelsi's hands. "There's some dressing rooms in the back of the store. Go try this on."
"I don't know, Sharpay," Kelsi said quietly, still holding off tears after Dawn's harsh words. "I don't think this is me..."
"It's not," Dawn offered, amusement mixing in with her anger as she studied the costume that Kelsi now held. "That costume is actually kind of sexy and, well, you're not."
"Come on, Kelsi." Sharpay leaned in to whisper in Kelsi's ear. "I know you have a backbone hidden in there somewhere. Use it!"
"I'm telling you, Kelsi...a cow costume is definitely the way to go," Dawn taunted.
"Ignore Bozo and trust me," Sharpay countered. "Yes, it's a little skimpier than what you're used to, but it's still totally cute and classy. You'll look amazing in this and Ryan will love it," Sharpay smirked. "And besides...a little goes a long way with Ryan. I bet this shows just enough skin to drive him crazy. Halloween's on a Saturday this year, right? I can fly out and help you with your hair and makeup if you want. You'll look beautifully fabulous and Ryan won't be able to take his eyes off you all night."
"Of course he won't," Dawn muttered sarcastically. "It'll be the first time he'll see a human cow trying to pass off as something sexy. It'll be like a bad car accident. You know, where you don't want to look, but you just can't help yourself."
"Kelsi, come on!" Sharpay hissed in her ear.
"R-Ryan doesn't seem to have a p-problem with how I look," Kelsi managed, encouraged when Sharpay smiled at her. "He...he thinks I'm beautiful. I should know...he's always telling me. S-Sharpay's right. You don't stand a chance."
"Thatta girl," Sharpay whispered.
"You can w-wear what you want. It won't change the fact that Ryan's in love with me." Kelsi struggled to say the words...in her head, she knew they were true, but her heart...her heart was now full of doubt, thanks to Dawn. Ignoring the doubt and fighting to hold onto what her head knew as the truth, she pressed on, forcing herself to sound strong. "The only way you could ever have a chance with him would be if I let him go...and you...you should..." Kelsi chewed on her lip for a moment, furiously working to hold back the tears that still wanted to escape. "You should know that I have no intention of letting him go. N-now...if you'll excuse me...I have a costume to try on."
"Good job," Sharpay murmured, giving her an oddly warm smile. "Go on...I'll wrap things up here." Kelsi managed to nod and headed towards the dressing rooms, resisting the overwhelming urge to break into a run. "You can go ahead and buy that costume and you can do everything in your power to break them up, but it's not happening. What Kelsi said was true for the most part. See, Donna," Sharpay smirked, "you wouldn't stand a chance with my brother even if she wasn't in the picture. It's like I told you: my brother knows the difference between class and trash and he will always pick class. And you? You're about as far from classy as you can get. Besides, even if my brother was dumb enough to ever give you a second look, your relationship with him wouldn't last all that long because I'll be damned if I'll have a slut for a sister-in-law."
"Which, between you and me," Sharpay continued, "is exactly what Kelsi will be someday. You hate her because she has the one thing you never will: my brother. I think I will fly out here for the party because I want to see firsthand all the lowdown dirty tricks I'm sure you will pull."
"I hope you do make it out to the party," Dawn cut in, struggling not to be intimidated by Sharpay and not quite succeeding. "Because I will make Ryan mine. And don't worry...I'll make sure that you and Kelsi have a front row seat. I'd hate for you to miss Ryan falling right into my waiting arms."
"Bring it, Bozo," Sharpay challenged. "I want a front row seat, all right, but it's not to watch you steal my brother away from Kelsi. No, see, it's because I cannot wait to see you go down in flames. Which you will."
"Well, I guess we'll just have to see what happens, won't we?" Dawn countered.
"I guess we will," Sharpay agreed. "Does this mean you're leaving? Because I would really love for my eyes - and my ears for that matter - to stop hurting."
"Yeah...I'm leaving." Dawn lifted an eyebrow at her. "See you at the party?"
"See you at the party," Sharpay echoed, smirking again as she watched Dawn walk away. "Hey Dawn?" she called.
"What?" Dawn snapped, spinning back around to face her.
"Do you smell that?" Sharpay sniffed dramatically.
"Smell what?" Dawn asked, annoyed.
"The smoke," Sharpay replied, a wicked grin flashing across her face. "And you know what they say: where there's smoke, there's fire. You're going down." When she spoke again, her voice was overly perky. "Toodles!" She wagged her fingers at Dawn and then spun around to march towards the dressing rooms, pulling her cell phone out of her purse in the process. Her grin faded as soon as she was out of Dawn's sight, worried about Kelsi. Kelsi may have somehow found the courage to stand up to Dawn, but Sharpay also knew that Dawn's words had affected her more than they should have. Significantly more. She thumbed her way through her list of contacts, hitting send once she reached Ryan's name.
"Hey Sharpay." Sharpay smiled briefly, relieved that her brother had answered so quickly.
"Hey Ry..." she said slowly, unsure of how much she should tell him.
"What's wrong?" he asked, instantly sounding concerned. "Are you okay? Are you still with Kelsi? Is she okay?"
"How do you do that?" Sharpay asked, astonished that he had zeroed in on the reason for her call so fast. "Anyway, to answer your last three questions...yes, I'm okay and yes, I'm still with Kelsi. And no...she's not okay."
"What's wrong?" he repeated his first question and Sharpay nearly smiled again at how he seemed to have grown more worried in a matter of seconds.
"We, well, we had a run in with Bozo, I mean, that awful Dawn person," Sharpay corrected herself.
"Bozo." Ryan chuckled in spite of himself. "I prefer to liken her to a human version of a cockroach myself, but Bozo works too." Sharpay giggled, amused.
"Geez...we can be kind of mean sometimes, can't we?" she teased him, though she quickly grew more serious. "Anyway, we ran into her and she said some things...I said some things...she said more things and Kelsi actually managed to stand up to her, which was great, but...well..." Sharpay paused, her voice going soft. "Not before Dawn got to her. I think she's really shaken up and I think she really, really needs to hear from her boyfriend. Like right now."
"Bye." Sharpay gaped at her phone in shock, stunned that Ryan had actually hung up to her. Normally she would be furious, but now she smiled, shaking her head. Her brother was definitely head over heels in love with Kelsi, there was no denying that. Now all he had to do was convince Kelsi of that.
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Kelsi paced the small dressing room, her purse on the bench and the costume hanging on the hook on the door. She sniffled as she angrily swiped at the tears that were still falling even after being in the dressing room for a couple of minutes. Her brain was telling her to get a hold of herself, but that wasn't enough to stop the hurt from flowing. She knew that Dawn was a jealous and most likely insecure person and as such would do everything in her power to try and make Kelsi feel bad about herself. She also knew that she shouldn't give Dawn's words more than a passing thought, but for some reason always did. Kelsi had always been an emotional and sensitive person which she knew wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but times like this she couldn't help wishing she was more like Sharpay.
She let out sad sigh at the thought. It wasn't that she wanted to be exactly like Sharpay, she just admired the way that the blonde never seemed to have a problem saying exactly what was on her mind. She wasn't one to get easily intimidated and she had no trouble standing up for herself. She was a lot like Taylor McKessie in that respect. Kelsi sniffled again at the thought of Taylor. Too bad she hadn't been around for the showdown between Dawn and Sharpay. Dawn would've run away screaming if that had been the case.
Kelsi allowed a small smile at that thought, though she had to admit that Sharpay had handled the situation in typical Sharpay fashion which had definitely been enough to intimidate Dawn. Kelsi was positive that she had never seen her rival look so shaken up. Kelsi turned back around and hesitated as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, her eyes red-rimmed from the tears that refused to stop flowing. "I am such a wimp," Kelsi whispered to her reflection. Not only had she barely been able to halfway stick up for herself, she had also been reduced to tears. She shook her head, disgusted with herself. "Hmm," she muttered, turning first one way and then the other. 'Maybe I do need to lose a few pounds', she thought.
She sat down on the bench with another sigh, her mind replaying the confrontation with Dawn once more. Kelsi was certain that Dawn would never have a chance with Ryan even if he was single. Dawn wasn't exactly the type of girl Ryan went for. Kelsi started to smile at that thought, but stopped as a new thought came to mind. She wouldn't exactly think of herself as the type of girl Ryan went for either. Her relationship with Ryan didn't make any sense, as far as she was concerned. Sure, she was hopelessly in love with him and she doubted anyone would blame her. Ryan was easily one of the most wonderful people Kelsi had ever met and so caring and loving. He was funny and charming and talented - insanely so. She would've been crazy not to fall for him.
The problem with their relationship, the thing that didn't make sense, was the fact that Ryan was in love with her. Not only that – he had been interested in Kelsi even before she'd realized her own feelings for him. Of course, she'd had a boyfriend when the Evans twins first showed up at East High, but even so. She had been oblivious to his feelings for her and vice versa, up until the point she had broken up with her cheating boyfriend. After the break up, she had initially been confused by her developing feelings for Ryan before giving in and letting herself fall for him completely. They'd become a couple by the end of their senior year.
It just didn't make sense. Out of all the girls at East High, he had chosen her. Her with her mousy brown hair and thick thighs...not that she had really thought she'd had thick thighs up until the point Dawn mentioned them. Her head knew that that had been Dawn's goal, but she couldn't help noticing that they did look a little thick when she looked in the mirror.
'Ryan deserves so much better than me,' she thought, feeling ridiculously depressed and angry at the same time. Depressed because she believed it and angry because it was all Dawn's fault. "Spawn of Satan," Kelsi mumbled under her breath, jumping at the sound of her cell phone. She pulled it out of her purse and nearly smiled when she saw that it was Ryan. 'That boy has incredible timing,' she thought as she swiped her hand at her cheeks again and cleared her throat before answering.
"Hi," she said softly, willing her voice to sound normal so he wouldn't know she was crying.
"Hey beautiful." His voice was low and soothing and Kelsi found her eyes closing, leaning back against the wall of the dressing room. She was suddenly missing him even though she had seen him the day before. "How are you?" The question seemed laced with meaning and Kelsi resisted the urge to sigh, assuming that his tone meant that he had talked to his sister recently.
"I'm good," she answered, hating how fake her voice sounded and knowing he'd be able to tell. "How are you?"
"Well...I was doing really good, hanging out with Zeke since my dance class ended," he began. "It's been nice having him and Sharpay out to visit, you know? Good seeing them."
"Yes, it has," Kelsi agreed.
"Yeah...but back to your question...I was doing really good, but then I got a phone call," he continued.
"Gee, I wonder who that could've been from," she halfway teased him, though her heart wasn't in it. "A certain pink wearing sister of yours, perhaps?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact. And she told me that the two of you had a run-in with the human cockroach," he answered, surprising a soft giggle out of her. "Well, I liked hearing that," he added.
"The human cockroach?" Kelsi asked, amused in spite of herself.
"Sure. It fits, don't you think?" he countered.
"I still like spawn of Satan myself...though human cockroach is pretty good too. I also liked Sharpay's Bozo," Kelsi snickered, unable to resist, but quickly sobered. "But let me guess...Sharpay told you that she thought I was upset and told you to call me."
"Are you?" he wanted to know.
"Upset? Of course not," she lied. "It's just Dawn. Why should I care what she says?"
"You shouldn't," Ryan replied. "But you do."
"I'm fine," she insisted, horrified when her voice broke.
"Baby." His voice was gentle. "If this is what you consider fine, than our definitions of that word don't match up."
"Okay, fine. I'm not fine, okay? I've been sitting here crying all because some pathetic excuse of a woman whose opinion doesn't matter got to me. Face it, Ryan. Your girlfriend is a spineless, pathetic, overemotional, overly sensitive wimp who could stand to lose a few pounds," she sighed.
"Kelsi..." There was a brief pause as Ryan tried to figure out the best way to respond. "There are so many things wrong with that last sentence that I don't know where to begin. You're not spineless, Kelsi, you just-"
"Never stick up for myself, ever," she interrupted.
"And yet you have no problems interrupting your boyfriend," he teased causing her to half-smile. His voice was soft and sincere when he continued speaking. "Your boyfriend who, by the way, loves you very, very much."
"Oh, Ryan," she sighed, wishing he was with her. "I love you too."
"Then let me finish," he chided her gently. "You are in no way pathetic and, yes, you are an emotional person, but not overly so. That's one of the things I love about you. Same with your sensitivity."
"You love that I'm so oversensitive that stupid comments by stupid people make me cry?" she asked.
"Well, no. I hate it when you cry, especially when I'm not there to make it better," he answered. "Let's see, what else was there? You called yourself a wimp, right? You're not a wimp, Kelsi. I think you're stronger than you think you are. You just have to believe it." He hesitated. "And you thinking you have to lose a few pounds is insane. You're beautiful just the way you are."
"So...does that mean you don't think I have thick thighs?" she asked, shyly, suddenly relieved that he couldn't see her face since it was slowly turning pink.
"Oh for heaven's sake. There is nothing wrong with your thighs. Or any other part of your body for that matter...and that's all I'm going to say about that since I really don't know how to continue without sounding like a pervert," he said quickly, making her giggle. "Feeling better yet?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. I'm not sure if I believe you or not, but I appreciate you saying all of that," she said softly.
"I must be doing something wrong if you don't believe me," he sighed dramatically. "I guess that means that we'll just have to send Zeke and Sharpay out in the city by themselves tonight. That way the two of us can spend a quiet night alone in my apartment so I can convince you that what I'm saying is the truth," he said lightly.
"And how do you plan on doing that?" she asked, smiling.
"Oh, I have my ways. Don't you worry your pretty little head about that," he said mysteriously. "Sound like a plan?"
"What time?"
"Seven?" he suggested.
"Okay," she agreed.
"Okay," he repeated. "Hey."
"What?"
"I love you," he told her.
"I love you too, baby," she said softly. "See you at seven."
"See you at seven," he echoed. She smiled as she hung up, happy that she'd be seeing him in a couple of hours. Fueled by their conversation, Kelsi looked over at the costume that she had still not tried on and immediately got to her feet.
"I guess it can't hurt to try you on." She kept her voice quiet, lest she be committed for talking to a Halloween costume. "Maybe Sharpay's right...maybe you are the perfect costume. One way to find out." She lifted it off the hook and held it up to herself, feeling a new resolve take over her body. Somehow she would find her missing confidence before the Halloween party and no way would she let some bright haired floozy steal away the man she loved.
Hmm...I wonder what Kelsi's gonna be for Halloween. Any guesses? From anyone other than erfan18 since she already knows. ;)
Fanfic recommendation time. Is it me or has it been a little quiet around here lately? Kind of sad. In any event, I know a lot of you are already reading this story, but I'm gonna recommend it anyway: So I've fallen in love by anothersmallperson. This story is seriously incredible! Definitely one of my favorites on here. So if you haven't read it...what are you waiting for? :)