Wow, thank you guys so much for the reviews. You guys are awesome. Don't worry, there's plenty to come.

And on a related note, I've begun posting my drabbles in response to the JDPhoenix challenge over at the ryelsi community on LJ. I've decided to tie them into this universe, so only the ones that take place before this fic are posted. As time goes on, I'll start updating that as those challenge responses tie into the progressing story. Was that too confusing? Ah, just go read them and you'll understand. It's called "Snapshots."

Oh, and I own nothing but the computer I'm typing on and my love for Ryelsi.


Ten minutes later he slammed on the brakes in front of the two-story Nielsen residence, his heart pounding and blood pumping at the sight of three police cars in front and one uniformed cop standing at the door. Another two cops were standing around a section of the yard marked off by police tape, and through the windows he could see figures moving about in the upstairs portion of the house.

Ryan threw the car into park and jumped out as his legs carried him to the door. He only stopped when the policeman physically pushed him away from the door.

"Sir, you can't go in there. Identify yourself."

"Ryan Evans," he breathed heavily, "I need to see if Kelsi's okay."

"You know the residents?"

"I go to school with her. Please let me see her." He couldn't tell from the officer's expression or words if his friend was okay - or even alive - but he knew he had to get in. The man pursed his lips together and took a deep breath.

"Wait here," he ordered, giving the boy a stern look as he entered the house and shut the door. Ryan heard the bolt slide into place and he took the time to catch his breath. I'm overreacting, he told himself, please let me be overreacting. Moments later the same officer opened the door and beckoned him in. He followed the man quickly, trying to ignore the footsteps overhead, no doubt from a number of other officers. He was led to the den in the back of the house where two more officers stood watch over a lone figure hunched over on the couch. Ryan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and rushed over to Kelsi's side.

Her elbows were on her knees and her head was in her hands, her eyes firmly on the floor. Ryan knelt before her and put his hands on either side of her knees.

"Kels?" he said softly, not wanting startle her. But when she looked up at him he was the one taken aback. She had a horrendous bruise on the side of her face and a long scratch on her neck that was just shy of actually needing a bandage. The tears running down her face were evidence enough that something terrible had happened, and he couldn't help himself from brushing one away with his hand.

The small comforting gesture seemed to be the only encouragement she needed and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He was almost knocked backwards as she buried her head into his neck and sobbed uncontrollably. He still had no idea what had happened, but he rubbed her back and whispered comforting words all the same.

When she had calmed down enough she pulled away, completely embarrassed. "I'm sorry," she stammered, wiping her face.

"Hey, no worries. I'm here for you Kels…what happened?" But the question only brought tears to her eyes again, and Ryan shook his head. "No, no, it's okay. Shh," he moved to sit next to her on the couch and rubbed her back as she settled down again. Looking at the clock, Kelsi shot him a confused look.

"Ryan, how did you find out? I mean, homeroom started fifteen minutes ago, and you've been here for five. It takes longer than ten minutes to get here from East High."

"Not if you're driving ninety," he told her seriously. "And run a red light."

"I'm fairly certain that Vespa of yours can't hit ninety," she said with a hint of a smile.

"No, but Sharpay's car can."

"You stole Sharpay's car?"

"Borrowed," he corrected with a look at the uniformed officers at the door, "I borrowed my sister's car. I keep a spare key on my ring in case she locks her keys in." She didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything. Finally, after five minutes of silence, he heard her take a breath.

"There was break-in, early this morning," she started softly. "The man came to my room and told me to keep quiet. But Dad had heard and came down the hall. The man he," her breath hitched and she swallowed a couple of times. "He pulled me out of bed and held a knife to my throat, said he was taking me. But we have a silent alarm and when the cops pulled up he freaked and…" This time she did break down, and Ryan pulled her against him. "Dad tried to stop him but he had a knife and…" She couldn't finish but Ryan could guess what had happened from the multitude of cops milling about and Kelsi's despondence. "The robber was killed as he was leaving the house…I heard them say something about 'suicide by cop.' But Dad…there was so much blood and…" Ryan hadn't seen a body lying in the front lawn, so he had to assume both of them had already been transported off the premises. He really didn't know what to tell his friend, but he was saved from having to respond by a loud commotion outside the door.

"Ryan you took my car!" they heard Sharpay's shrill voice, followed by what seemed like the entire "A" squad Wildcat basketball team calling out Kelsi's name.

"Is the entire homeroom here?" Kelsi asked her friend, but Ryan shrugged.

"I don't know, I kind of ran out of the room quickly. I guess they followed."

"You really ran out of homeroom," she repeated him incredulously, and he got a thoughtful look on his face.

"Come to think of it, I think I bowled through a hall monitor as well." Kelsi let out a small laugh in spite of herself, and Ryan took solace in the fact that he could cheer his friend up even a little bit in her darkest time.

"We should go let them in before they get arrested for harassing a cop," she told him but as he stood up she grabbed his hand. "Ryan…"

"Don't worry," he told her, squeezing her hand, "I'm right here, and you don't have to tell them anything that makes you feel uncomfortable."

"Could you…no, never mind."

"If you want me to I'll tell them." His gaze was piercing, and she looked away quickly and nodded.

"I'm…gonna go change clothes," she looked down at her pajamas with a quick blush before darting up the stairs. Ryan watched her pause at the top, her eyes taking in a scene he couldn't see, and he willed some of his strength to her. She turned back and graced him with a small smile before taking a deep breath and plunging through the crowd of officers.

"You may as well let them in," Ryan told the cop guarding the door. The man grimaced and cast a quick glance at the ceiling before opening the door. Ryan was assaulted with no less than seven people demanding answers, and one very irate sister.

"What's going on?"

"Is Kelsi okay?"

"Where is she?"

"I cannot believe you took my car! How fast were you going?"

"Whoa!" Ryan held up his hands and his friends quieted down. He gestured for them to follow him, and they did, all the way back to the den. They spread out around the room and Ryan stood in the center.

"There was a break in this morning," he told them, his voice becoming heavy with emotion as he remembered Kelsi's struggle to relate her story to him. "A man tried to take Kelsi, but her father interfered. He…" Ryan swallowed a lump in his throat. "He was killed saving her."

"Oh my god," Taylor murmured, her hand flying to her mouth. Gabriella gripped Troy's hand tightly as a tear rolled down her face, and even Sharpay was shocked into silence.

"Is she okay?" Martha finally asked.

"She's got a nasty bruise," he answered, "and a shallow scratch on her throat from the knife…but she's more emotionally hurt than anything. She's gonna need us."

"Absolutely," Troy answered for them. "We're a team, remember?"

"We're all in this together," Sharpay added, shocking most of them. "Hey, other than Ryan I've known Kelsi longer than any of you," she added defensively.

"Thanks Sharpay," a voice came from the doorway and they all turned to find their composer looking very small in jeans and an oversized sweatshirt. Her hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail and she wasn't even wearing a hat. They all stood as one and Kelsi was pulled into a very large group hug. No one said anything for a long time, and Kelsi relished the feeling of being with her closest friends.

"Miss Nielsen?" one of the female cops had finished her investigation upstairs and was now standing at the door. Kelsi pulled away from her friends and approached the woman. "I'm Detective Tonya Casey. I'm going to have to ask you to get together some of your belongings and come with us to the station."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because your father was an only child and you have no immediate family to stay with. And until some other family can be located and notified, I'm afraid you'll be remanded to social services."

"What!" no less than five voices cried out at once.

"She can stay with me!" another three.

But Kelsi had shied away from the indignation of her peers and moved to the wall as Troy and Chad tried to pour on as much charm as they could muster to change the officer's verdict.

"Hey, how are you holding up?" Ryan asked softly. She shrugged and watched as Gabriella made a compelling case for Kelsi staying with her, proving why she had deserved to get into Stanford's pre-law program.

"I just…I guess I didn't expect this," she told him honestly.

"Hey, we're your friends," he confirmed. "And we stick together, good and bad right?" She leaned against his shoulder and he supported her weight as they watched the officer's resolve waver under the powerful tri-fold argument of Troy, Chad, and Gabriella. But, as if suddenly remembering she held more power than a group of eight teenagers, Detective Casey straightened and looked them directly in the eye.

"Miss Nielsen will be coming with us to the station. I suggest the nine of you return to school before I arrest you all on truancy charges." At this Kelsi stood up straight and faced her friends.

"Just go," she told them. "I'll be okay." But as the policewoman surveyed this apparently close-knit group she couldn't help the next words that came out of her mouth.

"It would probably be better if Miss Nielsen weren't alone right now. I suppose I could excuse one of you from classes today." As one the entire group turned to Ryan, Kelsi included, and he nodded.

"You guys go back to school. I'll take care of her." Slowly they trickled out the door, but not before each of them pulled Kelsi into a hug, whispering words of encouragement or condolence. Finally it was just Kelsi, Ryan, and the detective.

"You should collect some things," she told the girl as she walked off.

"Do you need some help?" Ryan offered, though he had no idea what Kelsi would want to bring.

"No, I can get it." She took three steps toward the stairs before turning around. She ran over and pulled him into a hug, her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders. "Thanks Ryan," she whispered in his ear. He squeezed once before letting her go.

"This is what friends are for, Kelsi," he said simply. She nodded at him thoughtfully before continuing her journey upstairs.


Well, now you know what's up. So how will this affect the group and the upcoming end of the school year? Stay tuned to find out.