And...Round 2

I don't own HSM...but if I did I wouldn't have student loans. Maybe Disney will give it to me as an early graduation present....

I was going to post this tomorrow...but I figured this would make AllForLoveAndHappiness happy! So to answer your question...Ryan is introduced in this chapter.

Gabriella Bolton couldn't help but laugh while watching the two young girls in her rear view mirror. They were honestly oblivious to everything around them, except their conversation...which if Gabby were picking up on it correctly was over which fairy they liked the best in the movie Tinkerbell.

It was a little eerie how much Grace looked like Kelsi, she was the spitting image really. Gabby wondered what Grace may have inherited from her father. But then, Gabby often found herself wondering what Grace's father was like...or for that matter who he was. She had her suspicions regarding his identity, but had never vocalized them. Gabby was Kelsi's closest friend, if Kelsi wanted to share the knowledge, she would. The only thing she would share concerning his identity was that a child did not fit into his life and that Grace was hers to raise. It was known amongst the friends that the subject of Grace's dad was not open for discussion. And Gabby had to admit, Kelsi was a phenomenal mother. Grace was her everything, and that fact was apparent to anyone who spoke to Kelsi. Gabby shook her thoughts away as she pulled up to the dance studio aptly named "Twinkle Toes."

"Alright ladies, I hope you have your dance shoes on?" Gabby stated playfully.

"We do!" The girls chorused in union.

Grace and Izzie held onto Gabby's hands as they entered the building. Their eyes took in the various dance posters which framed the bright walls, while comfortable seats were available in the waiting/ viewing area. The practice area had smooth and slippery floors perfect for prancing around on. But the girls favorite part was the huge mirror that framed the length of the room.

Gabby sat the girls on a bench, while she helped them put on their ballet slippers. She was in the middle of trying to get the double knot out of Grace's sneaker when a familiar voice greeted her.

"Gabriella Montez?"

Gabby turned her head and let out a huge laugh upon instantly recognizing the man behind the voice. She stood up and launched herself into his arms while he spun her around in a dizzying hug.

"Ryan Evans...I can't believe it, what are you doing in Albuquerque?"

Ryan smiled down at his friend who he had not seen in what must have been over six years.

"I am here to teach. The owners wanted to retire, so I bought the place. It was finally time for me to stop touring and settle down in one location for a change. Almost six years of traveling and touring can really wear a person out. But enough about me...what have you been up to Miss Montez?"

Gabby held out her left hand for Ryan to inspect.

"You are presently speaking to Mrs. Bolton."

Ryan smiled a genuine smile.

"I should have known...how long have you and Troy been married?" He asked

Gabby's face lit up with the mention of Troy's name.

"Gosh, we married right out of college. And we had this beautiful girl less than a year later." Gabby said motioning towards Izzie. "So...5 years."

Izzie and Grace both looked at the blond haired man skeptically. Izzie because she did not understand why he swung her mother around earlier, only her Daddy and Uncle Chad did that. While Grace's reasoning was quite different, she couldn't help feeling like she knew this Ryan guy with the friendly smile.

Ryan's eyes focused first on Izzie.

"Wow, Gabby she looks just like you...except with Troy's eyes."

"Ryan meet Isabella Bolton, also known as Izzie. And the beauty sitting next to her is her best friend Grace."

Gabby did not know why she did not tell Ryan Grace's last name. For some reason she had a feeling it almost wasn't her place to share that bit of knowledge.

Ryan's eyes drifted from Izzie and settled on Grace...and his whole body felt like it had been shocked. Standing before him was a mini version of Kelsi Nielson, complete with the glasses and the hat. Memories of Kelsi hit him like an oncoming truck and he knew he had to find sanctuary fast.

"Wow...um..well, it was very nice to see you Gabby. And nice meeting you girls, I hope you have a great class." Ryan awkwardly got the words out before practically sprinting back into his office.

"Okay...good seeing you too. Bye Ryan." Gabby said to his already retreating back.

Wow, that was weird she thought. Ryan took one look at Grace and freaked out. The thought of Grace brought her eyes down to the little girl. She noticed Grace's confused big blue eyes were looking at the door Ryan had escaped through.

"C'mon girls, let's go before we are late." Gabby said with forced normalcy. She would think about the odd interaction with Ryan later.

Behind the closed door of his office Ryan could not shake the image of the little girl who could have been Kelsi's twin at...God, how old was she, 4 or 5. Memories of Kelsi seemed to bombard him all at once, and Ryan felt his heart fill with an aching sensation. Ryan had two regrets in his life. One, was letting Sharpay keep him under her thumb for so long. And the other, much greater regret was loosing Kelsi Nielson. He and Kelsi had dated throughout Juilliard, where they both went to college. They were in all honesty the perfect couple. She was the composer and he was the choreographer. They both spoke openly about marriage and spending their lives together...that is until he got cast in his first big show. The moment he made the touring company of "Wicked" it was as if ambition took over every aspect of his life. He had still loved Kelsi...God, how he had loved her. He just did not know how to balance work and a relationship. So he ended it not long after their senior year. They had only been 21 and he didn't know how to function in that serious of a relationship, while also giving 100% to his craft. If he knew then what he knew now, he would have fought with everything within him to hold on to her. Because with age and experience Ryan now knew that he was the sort of man that only loved one woman, and he had already let her go.

Hmmmm...who could be Grace's dad?