Author's Note: Here's chapter one of Love You Outloud. Enjoy! I really like this chapter (even though it's sort of weird) because it's long, lol. Happy reading!

Chapter One: Everyone's A Critic

Ryan Evans never cooked before in his entire life.

But, that never stopped him from cooking a special dinner for his girlfriend, Haylie Anderson.

When Mrs. Evans heard what Ryan was doing, she gave him a very doubtful smile.

"Ryan..honey, you never cooked in your life. Just take Haylie out to eat."

Ryan frowned slightly at his mother, and Mrs. Evans knew she made a mistake.

"Mom, all we've been doing is going out to eat. For once I want to treat her to a Evans buffet." Ryan replied.

Sharpay and Ryan never really learn to cook (although Sharpay took a cooking class, which never went very well), and they had cooking staff, so there was no need for an Evans to cook.

Until now, that is.

"I know you want to do something special for her, Ryan, but you always do." Mrs. Evans responded, and Ryan nodded.

"I have to. Ever since she came here, all there has been is drama." Ryan explained.

"There hasn't been any drama lately, Ryan, and I should know. So, just her be for once." Mrs. Evans told him as the doorbell rang, and Ryan went to go get it.

Standing in the doorway was none other Haylie, dressed in a lacy, white top, with a demin jacket, jeans, and black ballet flats, and he smiled.

"Hey. You look fabulous."

Haylie smiled as she gave him a kiss on the lips, and she said, "Thanks. So do you."

Ryan opened the door little wider so Haylie could come in, and she turned around to face him.

"So, I heard from someone that your cooking tonight."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Who told you?"

"Well, you were telling Sharpay about it, and.."

Ryan sighed, thinking that he should keep his mouth shut when he wanted to surprise her.

Haylie noticed the expression on his face, and she grinned.

"But, that's sweet, though! No one's tried cooking a meal for me before."

"That's just it...I can't excately cook." Ryan replied, and he thought she would laugh at him, but she didn't.

She did the excate opposite, and smiled.

"Do you want me to help you?" Haylie asked, and Ryan shook his head.

"Absolutely not. This is your dinner."

"But, your eating it too." Haylie replied, and Ryan nodded.

"Yeah, I am, but--"

"Then let me help. Besides, I think it'll be fun!"

Ryan watched as his girlfriend made her way into the kitchen, and Ryan had no choice but to follow her.

Tonight, Ryan told the kitchen staff to have the night off, considering he was making Haylie dinner, and now he wished he hadn't.

"Would it be better if I called some of the staff?" Ryan asked, and Haylie shook her head.

"Ryan, you have those people cooking for you and your family everyday!" Haylie stated, and Ryan looked at her.

"I guess."

"So, what were you planning on making?" Haylie asked, and Ryan had it all planned out: a traditonal spaghetti night, which was the dinner of the two dogs from one of Haylie's favorite Disney movies, Lady And The Tramp.

Also, he thought it'd be rather easy to make.

"Spaghetti. You know, from Lady And The Tramp?"

Haylie smiled, and hopped down from the stool she was sitting at.

"Well, let's get started, shall we?"

For the next hour and half, Ryan and Haylie prepared the traditional treat (with a few accidents here and there, especially if Ryan was doing some of the jobs), and at six-thirty, the dinner was made, along with some breadsticks that Haylie generously made herself.

As they settled down to eat, Ryan asked, "So, now do you think I can handle cooking?"

Haylie smiled as she placed some noodles on her plate, and placed some sauce on top.

"I think so. But, maybe Zeke better teach you some pointers, though."

Ryan chuckled as he dished up some of his own noodles.

"I think I got everything under control."

Haylie grinned as she looked at him.

"You think?"

"Hey, I might be the best cook in the world, but atleast I try, right?"

"And that's all I ask from you, Ryan."

All the while they were eating, Ryan still had his mother's words inside his head.

Should he let her be?

Ryan always said he'd protect her, but lately there hasn't been anything to protect her from.

Except for a bad ringtone on his cellphone, but he changed that as quickly as he changed her mind that "Barbie Girl" wasn't the ringtone for her.

Not in his case, anyways.

"Ryan, are you there?"

Ryan snapped out of his daydreaming to reveal Haylie looking at him oddly.

"What?" he asked, and Haylie sighed.

"I said we should clean up, and watch a movie."

Ryan looked down at his untouched meal, and shook his head.

"Alright. A movie sounds nice. While I clean up, do you want look through the movies--"

"But, I brought my own." Haylie said, pointing to her backpack, and Ryan smiled at her.

"Okay. Well, go set up the movie, and I'll be with you in a few minutes."

As Haylie was setting up the movie, Ryan cleaned up in the kitchen, still thinking about what his mother had told him.

Just like he told Troy, he wanted Haylie to have a good at the end of the year, with no drama.

And there has been no drama, so maybe he should lighten up just a little...

"Hey! Are you almost done?"

Ryan smirked as Haylie's voice made it a cross the livingroom, and into the kitchen.

He poked his head to see Haylie sitting on the couch, waiting, and Ryan walked out of the kitchen, with the smirk still attached to his face.

"Little impatient, aren't we?" Ryan asked, as Haylie giggled, and snuggled up to him.

"Maybe." she stated, as she hit "play", and Ryan's eyes grew wide as he realized they were about to watch Lady and The Tramp, and he smiled.

"Ah...I never would have guessed." he explained, and Haylie laughed.

"I thought it'd be perfect for tonight."

"Was that before you knew I was cooking?" Ryan asked, and Haylie gave him another smile.

"I just wanted to see what your reaction would be." Haylie replied, and Ryan kissed the top of her head before replying.

"Well, I like this movie."

"Are you just saying that so you won't hurt my feelings?" Haylie asked, and Ryan pretended to be shocked.

"Of course not! I love a Disney classic! Especially if it's about two dogs who fall in love.."

Haylie shook her head as she focused her eyes on the movie again.

"Just watch the movie, Ryan."

"But, before I do...do you think I protect you abit too much?"

Haylie paused the movie, and looked up at him.

"No..not really. Why?"

"Well, I was talking to my mom earlier, and she told me that I protect you little too much..rather, I shouldn't try and make you feel special all the time."

Haylie was silent, and Ryan raised an eyebrow.

"Haylie, your opinion matters to me. If I should back off, just tell me. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

"Let me tell you something. The only reason you place yourself in danger is because of me. I made you get hurt because some madman tried to hurt me, and you got a black eye for just doing that!"

"Yeah, but you've been safe countless times. Not a scratch on you."

"But you have been hurt countless times, and it's been because of me!"

"So? I want to see myself getting beaten up instead of you." Ryan insisted, and Haylie frowned.

"Yes, but--"

"I'm a guy, Haylie. I live for these kind of things."

"No, you live for drama class."

Ryan smiled again as Haylie started the movie, and Ryan was lost in the conflict of Tramp, Lady, and the Siamese cats.