Universal Disclaimer: I don't own High School Musical. But I'd be so flipping rich if I did.
Note: This is going to be an on-going project dedicated to the under-appreciated (but my favorite) Ryan Evans. These are one-shots (some are more like drabbles), but they're all going to be connected, related events. Mostly canon, I suppose. Anyway, read and enjoy!
Poor Man
"I know everyone thinks I'm just Sharpay's poodle or something…" – Ryan Evans
He made a lot of sacrifices for his sister. No one knew how many. Not even Sharpay.
How could she do this to him? Send him packing like he was an employee, like a servant. But wasn't that how he planned it? Wasn't that what he wanted?
From day one, it was evident to Sharpay that it was Ryan with the true talent. He was incredibly intelligent, talented, and a genuinely nice person. To her, she couldn't compare. She didn't comprehend things as quickly as he did, didn't learn the dance steps as quickly, couldn't get so many kids to like her. All throughout elementary school, her insecurity complex grew.
At the time, Ryan was so secure with himself and loved his sister so much, that, to make her happy, he played dumb. It would only be for a little while, until she gained confidence. But once he started pretending, it was hard to stop.
His teachers couldn't begin to explain the Ryan Evans that emerged. In class, he was the blond, happy-go-lucky ditz. His term papers, however, expressed a clear, concise way with words that didn't match his everyday visage. They dismissed him as modest, afraid of being teased, terrified of being called a "nerd."
It never occurred to them that being a nerd would be a blessing as to what he was really called.
Drama geek.
Sharpay's lackey.
Gay.
Fag.
But it was he who didn't care who people thought, so he consistently played the role of an out-to-lunch thespian. So his reputation was shit? He became a better actor every day of his life.
Ah, acting. It seemed that those days acting was second nature to him, so it held little appeal. But for the most part he enjoyed it, along with singing and dancing (after all, who didn't love a good jazz square?)
But his first love was baseball. Which, of course, he gave up because Sharpay wanted someone to take acting classes, singing lessons, dance lessons, etc. with her. She needed the support.
At the time he had thought, why not? It was after the Rhode Island championships; he needed the break. He would only give up baseball for the winter and be back in the spring.
But he never came back.
So here he was, the summer before senior year. A cap-wearing, jazz-squaring, theatrical lackey. He looked at his classmates, giggling to each other, privy to the secrets he might have shared if he hadn't have given up so much for his sister's happiness.
And she screwed him over real well, didn't she?
Ryan gave a wry, bitter grin. His family may have owned the goddamn country club but he felt dirt poor. He was clueless, friendless, song-less.
Who the hell was he? Who was Ryan Evans?
"Hop in, Ryan! Everyone's invited to the game!" An enthusiastic wave followed a bright grin. He even garnered an inviting, though tentative, smile from her companion.
He crooked his cap, pocketed his ball, and leapt into the golf cart.
Maybe he'd find out.