First attempt at Ryan/Gabriella. I've never really been one for High School Musical fan fiction, but recently, the work of a few dedicated writers has inspired me. And I've always been one for pretty unlikely pairings in unlikely fandoms anyway. So, with nothing more to say, I leave you to the story.

Center Of The Universe

He'd been her friend since the 'Lava Springs Incident', as she'd come to call it.

He was there for her when she first broke up with Troy. It was strange to go to him of all people, at first, but within three days time it began to feel natural to her. Like she'd know him forever, like she could tell him anything.

He was there to help her win Troy back. She knew now how much of a sacrifice it had been for him. Even back then, he had liked her. But she had been oblivious to that, so caught up in her own drama with Troy. He had been such a good friend; it hadn't been hard for her to miss how hard it all was for him.

He there for her the entire senior year, no matter what happened. Whether it was her grades slipping, a big blow up with her mom or with Troy, or even just some little crisis like a bad hair day, she always knew she could count on him. He was there for all of it, for the things Troy wouldn't even begin to understand.

And he was there when she and Troy split for the second and final time. It had been a mutual split, both going to separate colleges, heading down separate roads in life, and they had changed so much that they just couldn't stay together any longer. They had both agreed on that. But it still hurt. And Ryan had been there for her.

They had wound up going to the same college. Apparently, it had both great academics, and a great theatrical program. So he was there for her as she dealt with being so far away from her mother, when she broke up with her first college boyfriend, and everything that went wrong while she was in college. He was there for her more than anyone else. But she still couldn't see why.

All she could see was the boy she had been great friends with since high school. But then it happened.

She had decided not to do the school play, since she was so busy concentrating on all her course work. But Ryan was in it, so she went to see him. She wasn't sure when it had happened, what scene had started it, but it was something about the way that every time he looked out into the audience, he seemed to be looking directly at her. Like she was the absolute center of the universe, his universe, and no one else in the audience mattered.

And that was when it hit her. He had always treated her like that. If anything ever went wrong in her life, he was there for her, no matter what it was, no matter what time it was. She was the center of his universe. She was amazed that she had never seen it before, that she could have been so blind to it. He liked her, maybe even loved her. But she had never known.

And then, just as she came to this conclusion, the play was over. She rushed to see him after it ended, even though the lobby was crowded with people, all of them congratulating the actors.

She saw him almost immediately.

He was halfway across the room, but he seemed to know she was already there, glancing up at her with a slight grin. But even as she was approaching, she could tell that nothing had changed about him. He was still the same goofy, geeky guy that she had been friends with since high school.

Only her perception of him had changed. But somehow that made all the difference.

"Hey, Gabi. Did you like the show?" he asked, his usual lopsided grin still in place.

And she kissed him. Just like that. Because, the thing was, somewhere along the line, he had become the center of her universe too.

Please review. It doesn't take all that long, but you wouldn't believe how much it would mean to me. And I'm thinking of adding another chapter or two, if you guys like this enough. Thanks for reading!