A/N: So, this is a response to the challenge on the Ryelsi Livejournal community! Yay! It's my first fic, pretty much ever, but definitely the first for HSM. It's supposed to be set slightly before/during the first one. It's unbeta'd, so there's probably a bunch of mistakes, hah. Let me know if it's any good. Constructive criticism is always good, but please be gentle!
Ryan's birthday is tomorrow. I glance nervously at the green and blue polka-dotted gift bag. Inside it's full of dark green tissue paper; all surrounding a lime green hat for him. He mentioned once (in an off-hand, nonchalant kind of way) that green and blue are his favorite colors. I hope he likes it; it took me forever to pick it out (I kept picking out hats for myself; seriously depleted my Ryan's-gift-budget). Biting my lip I look down at the card I just finished making. The card is made from green construction paper with dark blue ink for the writing ("Happy Birthday Ryan! You're Friend – Kelsi") I bite my lip before folding the card and placing in the (surprise!) green envelope. I wrote a simple 'Ryan' on the cover. I place the card with the bag and study if for a little while. My stomach goes crazy with butterflies and I decide to play some of my older compositions before going to bed.
The next day I finally manage to catch Ryan alone; Sharpay is off somewhere talking to Ms. Darbus. "Hey Ryan, got a sec?" I ask nervously, the gift bag hidden behind my back.
"Sure Kelsi, what's up?" He asks me in a very nonchalant way.
"Happy birthday." I mumble before shoving the bag at him and rushing outside to meet my dad. I take a deep breath once inside the car and close my eyes. My dad chuckles but doesn't ask me about it. I get home and nearly have a heart attack; there's a message on the machine. Luckily, my dad goes outside to play with my younger brothers. My hand shakes as I press the 'play' button. Sure enough, it isn't even Ryan. It's some telemarketer selling some kind of new gizmo. I release a breath I hadn't known I was holding and am startled to find that I feel a little disappointed. Frowning I go to my room to write some more music.
It isn't until the auditions for the winter musical that I finally see the hat. I almost stop breathing when I see him wearing it. My entire world narrows down to Ryan Evans wearing the hat I bought for him. I'm still sort of dazed when talking to Sharpay (and of course, Sharpay isn't exactly the most patient person alive). In fact, I'm still kind of dazed when I trip and scatter my music everywhere. It isn't until I see Ryan again that my mind begins to function semi-properly.
"Thanks for the hat Kelsi, I love it." He tells me with a smile. I momentarily forget to breath and he walks off to talk to Sharpay about something. I can't help smiling for the rest of the day. I hum the duet 'breaking free' under my breath on my way to the drama club meeting.
After the meeting, Ryan catches up to me at my locker. "Hey, I just wanted to say thanks again for the hat, and the bag, and the tissue paper, and the card." He lists with a smile. "It's nice to know that some people can remember my favorite color is not pink." He rolls his eyes and smirks. I stop breathing again.
"You're welcome." I say, blushing. It's a little delayed but he smiles at me so I don't think it matters that much.
"Ryan!" Sharpay screeches from down the hall; apparently she's ready to go. Ryan rolls his eyes and winks at me. I can't help but smile a wide (goofy) smile back.
"Later, Kelsi." He says as he begins walking (backwards) towards Sharpay.
"Later, Ryan." I say in a (breathy) whisper and wonder how terribly cliché it is to have such a hopeless crush on my only guy friend.