Ryan had been seeing Gabriella regularly for a few months at this point. She regularly avoided Troy, and all seemed to be well. The two were very close, and they shared lots of things. Some didn't even have to be said to be known.
We're the best of friends,
And we share our secrets,
She knows everything that is on my mind.
But there was something more that Ryan wanted to give, something special. He didn't know why he felt so strongly about one thing so suddenly, but something inside him just kept repeating itself.
Lately something's changed,
As I lie awake in my bed,
A voice here inside my head
Softly says,
And the worst part was, Ryan knew exactly what he wanted to do, but he found every time that he just couldn't.
Why don't you kiss her?
Why don't you tell her?
Why don't you let her see
The feelings that you hide?
"I have to tell her, have to show her. I have to do something…"
'Cause she'll never know
If you never show
The way you feel inside.
Sharpay walked into Ryan's room, leaning against the doorframe.
"What's on your mind?" she asked him. Ryan lay on his bed staring at the ceiling.
"Gabby."
"Oh. Well, what about her now?"
Ryan sighed. "I'm not sure," he finally said. "I love her, I guess, and I wanna show her."
"So tell her. Duh."
"But I can't tell her. And I don't know how to just show her exactly what I wanna say."
Oh I'm so afraid to make that first move,
Just a touch and we could cross the line.
"I just wanna…I don't know, kiss her, I guess. Every time I'm around her. She just has that effect on me."
Every time she's near,
I wanna never let her go.
Confess to her what my heart knows,
Hold her close.
"So…" Sharpay said. "So why don't you?"
Why don't you kiss her?
Why don't you tell her?
Why don't you let her see
The feelings that you hide?
'Cause she'll never know
If you never show
The way you feel inside.
Ryan sat at the poolside of the club, at the very end of the summer, with Gabriella next to him. Her hand lay beside his, and his fingers twitched, longing to take it in his own.
"Gabby?" She looked over at him.
"Yeah, Ry?"
Ryan picked up her hand and scooted towards her. "I…want to tell you something."
"What?" Her eyes connected with his. Ryan took a deep breath.
"I…" He moved his forehead in to touch hers. Gabriella's breathing stopped for a fraction of a second.
Why don't you kiss her?
"I love you," he said, the words brushing over her lips just before he closed the gap and kissed her.