MBP: Wow, I haven't been around in a while. But I got sick, and doctor visits, and need rest, so I resolve that problem by watching High School Musical stuff and thinking about Ryelsi. So, here's a -hopefully- multi-chapter story that I'll throw out while I'm still recovering.

Rini: Silly girl keeps coughing and making herself worse.

MBP: Shush! Anyway, this starts off shortly after the 1st movie, but before the 2nd. Because reasons. So, I hope you enjoy, and I own nothing!

Chapter One

There had never been anything between them, and frankly, Kelsi had never wanted it to be any different. It had been obvious, painfully so, that Troy had feelings for Gabriella, and that was not going to change anytime soon. Yes, Kelsi might have found Troy attractive –and she defended herself by admitting that half the student body felt the same way- and his attention was sweet since no one ever treated her the way he did.

But that didn't mean that she had feelings for Troy. She wrote her best songs for Troy and Gabriella, not just Troy. And they were never about her feelings for him. The words came to her, for the two of them, arranged to make them sound their best.

So where on earth did people get these crazy ideas? When had the insane thought first found its way into her classmate's minds? Is that why people were giving her those sympathetic looks when she walked down the halls with her friends?

Maybe she should go out with Jason; maybe then people would stop thinking that she was pining over Troy Bolton and let her be. After all, there was only so long a girl –even Kelsi- could deal with those looks.

Tapping on her notebook with a frown on her face, Kelsi ended up groaning and burying her face in her hands. When had she gotten herself involved in such… such drama? This wasn't supposed to happen to someone like her! She was just the composer; she was behind the scenes, behind the curtain, in another room completely! This kind of drama was for people like Sharpay who lived to be in the spotlight!

"Trouble?" Kelsi glanced up at the question, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"Of course not. Why would there be trouble?" While Kelsi certainly didn't mind Ryan's presence as much as his sister's, that didn't mean she was going to start spilling out her thoughts to him. Besides, if Ryan ever mentioned it –even in passing- to anyone else, her life would be completely ruined.

At least, ruined more than these ridiculous claims that she liked Troy were already ruining it.

Was she even thinking clearly? No, because if she was, Kelsi would have ignored all this already and just gone home instead of failing to write in the auditorium.

"New song?" While she was thinking to herself, Ryan had moved over to glance at the notebook, hovering over her shoulder.

"…Yes!" Squeaking a little, out of shock, Kelsi slammed the notebook closed, eyes wide when she turned to look at the blond. "Sorry. I didn't…"

"I was being nosy. Don't worry about it," Ryan smiled easily, moving back a step. "Temperamental artists are something I'm used to after all."

"I'm not…" Well, he did live with Sharpay, so he would be used to it, wouldn't he?

"Not?"

Had she stopped speaking in the middle of a sentence? "I'm not a temperamental artist," Kelsi finished her thought, shaking her head slightly. "I just don't like anyone reading what's not finished."

Ryan raised an eyebrow at her silently, as if she'd just confirmed what he'd said.

"I'm not!" Kelsi maintained stubbornly, shoving her notebook in her bag, careless in her hurry. "If it's not finished, then people shouldn't see it. I still have work to do on them!"

"I thought it sounded good," Ryan shrugged, ignoring the stare he was receiving as he picked up his own bag. "Is that for next year's musical?"

"You… do you…" Kelsi gaped for a moment before shaking her head and getting some of her wits back. "You never think my songs are good."

"Who said that?" For the first time, Ryan looked genuinely confused at something she was saying. "I've never said your music was bad."

"I figured that changing all of them was a relatively good sign," Kelsi returned, not harshly, but slowly enough to make sure she was understood. "The only people who used the originals are Troy and Gabriella, remember?"

Ryan at least had the decency to look embarrassed, scratching the back of his head when his eyes darted to the ground. "That was…" Ryan took a deep breath, glancing up at Kelsi before he looked away again. "So… you and Troy?"

"No!" Perhaps it was because she'd been thinking about the ridiculous rumors herself, but the change in subject didn't throw Kelsi off at all. "Really, not you too! Get it in your head, and maybe help other people realize it too! I do not have feelings for Troy! I like…"

She managed to shut herself up at the last minute, but the damage was already done. Ryan looked curious, eyebrows rising as he stuck his hands in his pocket. "You like who?"

"It's not…" Kelsi shook her head, hurriedly pulling her bag onto her shoulders. "Look, just forget I said anything! Except… Look, I don't like Troy, alright? That's all you need to get out of this whole thing, alright?"

"Alright," Ryan agreed amiably, looking amused for some reason Kelsi couldn't guess. "It's forgotten."

Somehow she doubted that, but Kelsi found herself saying goodbye quickly, ready to dart off and hide from her embarrassment somewhere else.

"Hey, Kelsi?" The quiet call had her stopping at the door, glancing over her shoulder quickly. "Your music's always been good. I should have stopped Sharpay, but… I wasn't really thinking of you."

"Uh… It's… fine?" Where had that come from? She wasn't expecting something like that. Maybe a 'You should change that song to be faster, or higher pitched, or altogether less compatible to anything you feel it should be' was what she was expecting, but not that.

"No, it's not. So… I'm sorry." Ryan's head was tilted to the side, waiting for a reply to his apology.

Unfortunately, Kelsi had no idea what she should be saying, so she squeaked out something about homework, and her parents, and needing to go before dashing out.

The last thing she heard was a faint "I'll see you tomorrow?" before Kelsi was out of earshot, escaping to her car. If she never relived that embarrassment again, it would be far too soon!

MBP: So, that's the beginning! I'll try to pop out another chapter in the next 24 hours! Probably sooner since I have nothing better to do with my life besides watch Winnie the Pooh movies.

Rini: Pooh Bear is awesome! See y'all next time!

MBP: Hope you enjoyed! Leave a review to let us know what you think if you want!