Thanks so much to my first two reviewers!
Danny Phantom SG-1: Yeah, sorry about the shortness. I was in a hurry to finish before the bell rang. And thanks about the comment on my spelling, grammar, and all that. I try really hard to make sure my sentences come out spelled correctly, with proper comma usage (I'm such a dork) and not rambling.
IncandescentAngel: I know, I adore Ryella. Thanks for reviewing.
Here's the next chapter, everyone!
"So, what's been going on lately?" Ryan asked her gently, trying not to prod.
She tried desperately to hold back tears that wanted to form in her eyes. Finally she managed to almost-whisper, "It's been hard."
Ryan was silent for a moment, hoping that she wasn't about to start sobbing. He didn't know if his heart could take that. Thankfully, she only let out a long sigh. Just give her time. She'll continue if she really wants to.
"Okay..." she started, taking a deep breath before plunging in. "No offense, but you know your sister has been acting kind-of like a jerk lately?"
"More like all the time," he muttered. "Continue."
"Seems like she'd do anything to get me in trouble and to get Troy wrapped around her finger. Who would've thought her evil plans this time would devastate not only me, but all of Troy's former friends. I've been through stuff like this before, no big deal." Despite her words, with this thought her voice changed to a pained tone. "But I would never want a situation like this to happen to such great people. Even Kelsi is hurt by all the stupid stuff Troy's done lately." Ryan nodded, understanding perfectly. He knew of his sister's tendency to get what she wanted, no matter what the circumstances, no matter who she had to push off that silly "ladder of success".
"So... what happens now?" he asked.
"I don't even know," Gabriella replied, fighting the urge to burst into tears. She didn't know what was going to happen now, didn't even want to dare to wonder. She'd stupidly built her whole "perfect summer" around her plans with Troy. Wrote TB+GM in every corner of every paper she'd turned in that year. Scribbled hearts and Gabriella Bolton all over her notebooks, binders, basically anything she got her hands on. All those love-filled days seemed so far away, now. She'd lost her pair of rose-colored-glasses. But, at this point, she didn't know if she wanted them back on anymore, now that she knew what Troy could become.
"You still there?"
"Oh, sorry," she said quickly, not having realized how much she'd spaced out. "No, I really don't know what happens now. All I know is I'm never going back there. Not for the talent show, not to see Troy sing that messed-up remix of that song with Sharpay, not for anything..."
"Well.." he started, not knowing whether he should continue or not. "Maybe..." Don't stutter, he told himself. Just ask. "Would you consider singing with me?" There. He'd finally asked. Now all that was left was to brace himself for her reply.
"Really?" She seemed to perk up with this one word.
"Yeah. I've actually been working on a song and everything..."
"Wow, really? I didn't know you could write music!" There was a sound of admiration in her voice.
"Kind-of. I write the words, then I give Kelsi a general idea of how I want it to sound, and she writes the sheet music for me."
"That is so cool! I would love to sing with you." For the first time in a week, she genuinely smiled.
And he was grinning his face off. "Thank you so much. When would you like to rehearse?"
"I don't know." She suddenly got very quiet.
"Gabby, you still there?"
"I was just wondering... what would Troy think? I mean, a week ago, when I quit... there was so much hurt in his eyes... I thought for sure if I'd stayed a minute more, he would've started crying..."
He paused. He hadn't planned for this. Not at all.
"Ry? Hello?"
