Thanks to krfan and to digigirl02 for my first two reviews! ^ ^

Kelsi was poring over her homework in front of the computer, she's been so stressed thinking about a lot of things mainly. There's Math [she's always been doing bad in that], Ryan, History, Ryan, new songs, and pretty much Ryan. Okay, Kelsi, focus. The brunette shook her head as soon as she turned her attention towards the screen, waiting for Ryan's username to tell her that he's already logged on. And man, she was looking at the screen more than focusing her attention doing her homework.

"Kelsi, dinner!" Her mother's voice called her for the second time. But Kelsi didn't feel like going to dinner, she wanted to wait for Ryan.

The brunette groaned, throwing her head back and answering back, "Not yet mom. I'm still doing my homework!"

But her mother was as stubborn as she was, "Kelsi Nielsen, come down here this instant. Don't make me call you again!" And with that last call, Kelsi pushed her chair back and gave a last look on the computer screen before heading down for her dinner. Her mother was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, "Good girl."

"Mom, I was doing my homework." She complained, half-laughing. Mrs. Nielsen nodded and just turned her heel, "Mom." Kelsi groaned again, she knew her mom didn't believe her and as if the answer is written all over her face. "I was." Entering the dining room, Kelsi gave her father a look; the man was wearing a grin. "Dad, tell me you don't believe mom."

"I'm not getting in this." He raised both hands for surrender but continued, "You weren't just doing your homework, darling." Kelsi's father met her eyes then she flushed, "You don't have that I'm-doing-a-hard-homework look. Or that songwriter aura."

Kelsi took a seat and frowned, "Am I that obvious?"

"Yes, yes you are." That was when her mother came out of the kitchen and finished laying out the food, "Kelsi dear, we know you. We're your parents. Who's the boy?" Sometimes her mother can get so blunt and a bit assertive, things that Kelsi wished she inherited from the woman. "Kelsi," Her mother called her name, "I'm asking you a question."

"Ryan." One name instantly makes her nervous.

Her father looked up, a bit puzzled, "Ryan. Ryan Evans?" He clarified, but his face turned a bit bright after a few minutes, "Well, I've got to hand it to you Alice, you know Kelsi very well."

"I told you so," The woman grinned almost smugly as she took the salad, "So, have you already told Ryan?"

Kelsi looked at her parents, "No mom. And aren't you going to tell me off for this?"

"Why should we?" Mr. Nielsen looked confused, "Ryan's a great guy. He's been teaching your mother to dance, something which I should thank him for. And anyway, you're best friends."

"And best friends often end up having the best relationship." Her mother added, not taking notice that Kelsi's face was getting redder and redder by the minute. "And I would like it if you end up with Ryan. I have nothing against Jason Cross though…" And she trailed off, casually muttering to herself.

The young Nielsen leaned on her seat she starts to eat dinner, "That's just it, dad. We're best friends." Her eyes met her father's, "He'd be careful not to tell me that he doesn't like me. Or he'd stay away from me."

Her father stopped eating, "Do you think Ryan would really be like that to you?" The look he gave her almost made Kelsi feel so young, so childish. "Do you think Ryan would try and hurt you like that?"

"Not in purpose but yeah." She answered.

"Then Ryan isn't the boy you thought he was."

How can his father think about Ryan that way? Implying that she doesn't know him? That's just…just so unreal. But do I really know him as he knows me?


It was almost late at night when Ryan logged in, Kelsi was also drowsing off her notebook and seemed like she wanted to go to bed. "Ryan!" She grinned as she received an IM from him.

jazz_square_ry: Hey kels. You busy?

Kelsi looked at the unfinished homework and just typed in,

littleplaymaker_18: no, I'm not. What's up?

jazz_square_ry: Well, the usual. Shar's being a diva.

Iittleplaymaker_18: Oh, lol, I see.

jazz_square_ry: Hey kels? Thanks for helping me with my project again. I wouldn't have finished it without you. ^ ^

littleplaymaker_18: I don't receive thank you's, Ry. You owe me big time. :)

jazz_square_ry: Don't worry. Haha, I've placed your name in the acknowledgements. "I'd like to thank my special friend Kelsi Nielsen…."

"Special friend." She read with a small frown taking over her once happy face. It hurts, how she thinks of him as that someone when Ryan thinks of her as a special friend. Just a special friend! Kelsi turned away from the screen and bit her lower lip, "Somehow, I wanted you to figure out that somehow, just somehow, you like me too." But things like that aren't going to happen. Some dreams are just meant to be dreams.

"Hey playmaker."

"Hey Kelsi."

Troy and Gabriella greeted the small brunette; the girl however just nodded at them. Gabriella nudged her boyfriend and pointed at Kelsi. "Hey Kels, what's wrong?" Troy nodded and went by the brunette who was fiddling with the locks of her locker. When the couple got close, being upset may be just an understatement. Kelsi's eyes were puffy and red and she doesn't look like she got a good night's sleep, "Playmaker? What's wrong?"

"Kelsi," Gabriella cooed, "You can tell us what's wrong."

"I'm fine." Kelsi told them, making a well-practiced smile appear on her face. "I'm just tired. It took all night to get my Math homework done." She tucked a stray strand of brown hair behind her ear and took a breath, "How are you two?"

Troy was about to say that he didn't believe her when Gabriella shook her head. "We're just fine. If you're having trouble with Math, I'd be happy to help." The dark-haired girl smiled, laying a hand on Kelsi's shoulder. Everyone knew reassuring gestures can make Kelsi calm and better and now, Gabriella can see that she needed this more than ever.

"That'll be great, Gabriella. Thanks. Oh, I gotta run. I'll see you later guys."

"What do you think is wrong with her?" Troy asked his girlfriend as he leaned on the lockers. "I mean, she looks upset. Very upset."

Gabriella shook her head, claiming that she doesn't know. But in reality, she did. "Maybe we should let her mull things over. I think she's getting a lot of pressure right now. We should tell the others not to ask her about it."

Zeke, however, seemed very bothered by it. It was obvious Ryan didn't know it yet since Kelsi didn't have classes with the blonde and it seemed like Kelsi avoided being seen in the hallways. He caught a sigh and just watched as Kelsi think, it was very less likely for her to daze off during English Literature. But here she is, thinking about other things.

Impatiently tapping his pen on his desk, Zeke caught Taylor's irritated glance so he stopped.

He had the same idea that Ryan was the reason why Kelsi was crying, just like Gabriella's thought. The dark-haired girl shared this with Zeke and he agreed that Ryan could be the only reason. "Maybe something happened yesterday that we don't know off." He remembered Gabriella saying to him in a low voice. "But Ryan should've noticed by now, right?"

Yes, he should've. Zeke turned away from Kelsi. He had developed a strong relationship with Kelsi; she was the little sister he never had. And now that she was hurting, he didn't hide the fact that he was hurting too.

"Hey Sharpay." Zeke called out to a certain blonde by the hallway, the girl turned around and smiled slightly, "Where's Ryan?"

Sharpay Evans rolled her eyes, "He's doing something in the library. I dunno, why?" She pushed back her wavy blonde hair and raised an eyebrow, "It's Kelsi, isn't it?"

"How d'you---"

She laughed, "You're seriously going to ask me that question, Zeke Baylor? I know girls who keep their secret crushes to themselves." Then Sharpay turned to look at him directly, "I'd call myself an expert in that matter."

"Oh." Zeke looked surprised at that, "Wanna go out this Saturday?" It came out from him just as if it was what he always said everyday. Well, he does say this everyday. And Zeke almost says this casually and it comes out naturally from him.

"Baylor, focus on Kelsi. She doesn't need the love sick Zeke Baylor right now." She snapped but had a very enigmatic smile on her face, "Aren't you going to hunt my brother and tell him to talk to Kelsi?"

"Oh right."

Sharpay rolled her eyes at him, "Just don't meddle much. They, seriously, have to figure things out on their own. And oh yes, I do know that Kelsi likes my brother. It's so obvious. I've never seen anyone act like her. I don't know how Ryan can't see that."

"It's because he's not you, Sharpay. He can't see through people." The tall one answered, "I don't know why Kelsi just won't say that she likes Ryan. She obviously wants to tell him."

"It's because she's not you, Baylor." Sharpay began walking away, strutting away more likely.

But when Zeke reached Ryan inside the library, Gabriella was already there. She seemed to be in a very discreet and important conversation with Ryan. "Gabriella?"

The girl looked up and, "I told you he'd come looking for you Ryan."

"What's wrong with Kelsi?" Ryan asked silently, he looked like he was the one overly upset. "I didn't get the chance to see her this morning so I didn't see."

Zeke took a seat by their table, "I don't know what's wrong with her. But since you're her best friend, we figured you know. Do you think something happened last night?"

"Just like what I told Gabriella, I don't think so. We were chatting and she seemed so happy. I'll go talk to her." He pushed his chair back and blinked at them, "I can't believe that I didn't feel she was upset and didn't want me to know." Ryan left after that.