Kelsi
Kelsi sat staring into space as chaos commenced around her. There were Sharpettes left, right and centre putting up props for Sharpay and Troy's duet. Sharpay was strutting around making demands and technicians were yelling at each other about the pyrotechnics. She started playing 'Everyday' as quietly as she could to keep herself amused.
"Kelsi! If you're going to practice anything make it my song!" Sharpay snapped at her.
"She hears like a bat! And since when was it HER song. Well if she wants to claim this horrible version she's welcome to. I certainly don't want anyone to think I arranged it…"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH"
Kelsi snapped out of her thoughts as the most high-pitched scream she had ever heard reached her ears. She looked over to wear Sharpay stood. She seemed to be having a small panic attack while Troy stood in front of her, hands in his pockets.
"What do you mean you're not doing the show?!" Sharpay shrieked.
"Exactly that." Troy said calmly.
"We're singing a duet Troy! A duet means two people!" Sharpay continued. Kelsi let out a small humourless laugh. Yeah, because Troy had his equal share in that song right enough. Troy seemed to be thinking the same thing as he raised his eyebrows at the hysterical blonde before him.
"Well, mostly me in this case but whatever! A duet!" she shouted.
"I'm an employee. Employees aren't allowed in the show." he replied. Kelsi looked at her friend in surprise. This was a step down to earth! Curious, she stepped up from behind the piano and walked round to get a better look. Sharpay was already running towards him desperately.
"No! You're an honorary member!"
"Not anymore. I asked Fulton for my kitchen job back." he explained. Kelsi jaw dropped. Sharpay seemed just as surprised.
"What?!"
"Sharpay, I don't like the way you've been treating my friends. And I don't like the way I've been treating them either." He caught Kelsi's eye. "So I'm doing something about it." She grinned widely at him and he gave her a small smile back. Sharpay, looking very exasperated, started to drag him towards the nearest table.
"An entire table of university boosters are coming to see you, thanks to me!" she shouted. Troy laughed.
"So I'll be their waiter, they'll be thrilled." Kelsi had to laugh. This was definitely the old Troy back.
"Troy! This could change your life!" Sharpay shrieked, her face full of frustration.
"I'm more interested in what my friends think of me." Troy said, looking Sharpay straight in the eye, his voice very serious. "And what I think of myself."
Kelsi nodded in approval. She couldn't wait to tell everyone about this. Sharpay, however, didn't seem to find his speech as inspiring.
"Oh we can all hold hands and sing round the campfire some other time!" she yelled, throwing her arms up in the air. "Right now we've got a show to do." she grabbed Troy's arm but he shook her off. Kelsi was almost afraid for him. The boy was brave.
"No. You've got a show to do. I got a kitchen to clean." Troy said calmly and walked away from the stage. Kelsi's eyes followed her friend in admiration. He was back to normal. Maybe this would mean Troy and Gabriella would get back together! She was about to run off the stage to catch up with him when,
"Kelsi! Find Ryan!"
She stopped in her tracks. That idea sounded just as appealing. Just as she turned to go she had a sudden epiphany. Maybe it would be possible to kill two birds with one stone. Get the wild cats to perform AND get Troy and Gabriella back together. She smiled to herself and rushed off to find Ryan.
Ryan
Ryan was lying on his bed in his apartment at lava springs, throwing a baseball into the air and catching it. The talent show was that night but he didn't think he would be able to bear the sight of his sister and Troy singing that horrific version of Kelsi's song. All he would be able to think of was his sister's betrayal, how Troy had hurt Gabriella and how they both had hurt his Kelsi.
"She's not yours man." he said to himself sadly. Suddenly there was a soft rapping on his door. He got up to answer it, expecting it to be his mother trying to persuade him to go to the show… again. He could almost hear her now.
"She's your sister Ducky. Be nice." Rolling his eyes he opened the door then took a jump back. It was Kelsi. Dressed in a cute pink sleeveless blouse, white trousers, her cheeks were flushed and her pink and white newsboy hat was squint. She had obviously been running. Yet there was a huge grin on her face.
"Ryan! Troy spoke to Sharpay earlier and he said he's not going to do the show but he asked for his kitchen job back and she was really mad but he stood up to her and he gave her this really big speech about how he feels bad about how he's been treating everyone but anyway I think we could get him back with Gabriella and maybe do the talent show so I ran all the way here and…" she suddenly swayed where she stood. Ryan looked at her incredulously.
"I think you need a sit down." he laughed, taking her by the elbow and guiding her to the bed. She looked a lot calmer when she sat down.
"Ok." said Ryan, trying to stay coherent. She was so close to him. Her eyes brightened from exercise, her chest moving up and down as breathed heavily, her scent whirling around him…
"So…Troy's not doing the show?" he asked, fighting to keep himself focussed on what Kelsi had told him and not how her lips were red and very close… She nodded frantically.
"And you have a plan?" She nodded again. He smiled at her excitement. It was adorable.
"Ok. We get Gabriella to get her butt down here. We tell her about what happened with Troy and Sharpay. If she agrees, we teach her 'Everyday'. You convince Troy to sing with Sharpay BUT…" she said as Ryan opened his mouth to speak.
"We tell him Sharpay has switched songs! I teach him 'Everyday' as quick as possible. So when he goes out on stage, none other than his beautiful girlfriend appears to sing with him." she finished proudly. Ryan looked at her in amazement.
"But Fulton…"
"I've already thought of that." said Kelsi proudly. Sharpay has already proved she'll do anything to make her show work right?" Ryan nodded. "And if I know Troy, or at least the one before he started acting like an idiot, he'll want us in the show too." she finished breathlessly. He had to hand it to her. It was genius. Or it would be if they managed to make this complex plan actually work.
"It's brilliant, but it's gonna be hard to pull off…" Ryan said uneasily. Kelsi put a hand on each of his shoulders. Again, the stomach flips.
"You need to go and see your sister. She asked me to find you."
"She'll suddenly want me to sing with her again I suppose." Ryan said in mock cheeriness. Kelsi giggled.
"I think so. Meanwhile, I'll tell everyone else what's going on and I'll call Gabriella and get her down here." she smiled and gave Ryan a brief hug before bounding out of the room again. Ryan let out a low whistle as Kelsi shut the door behind her. She was something…
Kelsi
Kelsi paced back and forth along one of the drive ways into lava springs. Eventually the car she knew to be Taylor's pulled up. Kelsi squealed as Gabriella stepped out of the car, beaming. Taylor was to explain everything on the drive over and it had clearly worked. She ran over, eager to see Gabriella.
"Kelsi!" Kelsi grinned and received the warm embrace from her missed friend. Gabriella leaned back from her and smiled at the smaller girl.
"Are you sure this will work?" she asked. Kelsi laughed and shook her head.
"I have no idea, but if it does it'll be amazing." Se grabbed her friend's hand and made to drag her into the kitchen before Taylor gasped in horror.
"Oh! I can't believe I forgot!" Taylor started to dig around in her handbag and eventually pulled out something very small and shiny. A small T glittered on the end of a silver chain. Gabriella's face crumpled into an expression so touched that Kelsi felt like she was intruding on something private and had to look away. When she looked back up, Taylor was fastening it round her friend's neck and Gabriella was trying to hide her watery eyes behind her hair.
"Chad found it for me." Taylor said gently as she adjusted the necklace. With a final squeeze of the hand from Taylor, Gabriella allowed herself to be led into the kitchen. She was instantly greeted by a hug from everyone. Kelsi eventually had to prise Chad off her so they could go and practice the song in the other room. When they left they could still hear him gushing in the other room.
"Thank God you're here! Everything's gonna work out now. You're just what he needs…"
Gabriella already knew the tune of 'Everyday' from rehearsals and she soon had the words memorised.
"You sound amazing." said Kelsi appreciatively. Gabriella laughed and shook her head.
"No really Gabby." she said gratefully. "Sharpay's supposed to be doing this God awful version of 'You are the music in me'. It's nice to hear this song performed so well."
Gabriella smiled sympathetically and grabbed Kelsi's hand.
"Let me guess. Fireworks, lights and LOTS of pink?"
"You have no idea." The two girls laughed loudly together.
"People don't appreciate you as much as they should Kels." Gabriella said softly and Kelsi could tell it was from her heart. "I can't thank you enough for organizing all this."
Suddenly they heard Chad's voice in the kitchen.
"Kelsi told us what went down with you and Sharpay today." Kelsi and Gabriella froze. Troy was here, and he couldn't know that Gabriella was yet. They heard Troy say his apologies to the group. Kelsi looked at Gabriella and saw her face soften at Troy's words. It was adorable to watch the expression of happiness that continued to grow on Gabriella's face.
"And Ryan, I know how hard you must have worked on this show. Making these wild cats look good couldn't have been easy." Troy continued. Kelsi saw Gabriella nod. She knew as well as Kelsi how committed Ryan had been. They also shared a quiet laugh when Chad mentioned that Troy had to see Ryan play baseball.
"I'm looking forward to it." Troy had replied. Kelsi grinned. It looked like Ryan was officially one of them.
"Troy listen, with all these people out there. I don't really wanna see my sister crash and burn. I least I think I don't…" Ryan said thoughtfully. Everyone laughed outside but Kelsi and Gabriella stayed still and silent next to the practice room door. Troy's answer to Ryan's next statement was going to make or break the plan.
"I think you should sing with her." Ryan said steadily. Kelsi could almost see everyone crossing their fingers. The kitchen had dropped into a hopeful silence.
"Ok I'll do it." they heard Troy say. "But this means you guys are in the show too."
Kelsi and Gabriella did a small quiet celebration while the crowd behind their hiding place cheered.
"Ok, I better go share the good news with your sister." Troy said to Ryan.
"Good news depending on how she takes it." Ryan said cheerily. Soon after that they heard the kitchen door slam. Ryan immediately appeared in the practice room. Kelsi gasped Ryan was wearing white dress trousers, a pink and purple patterned shirt, a navy suit jacket and a beige fedora hat was perched on top of his blonde hair. He scrubbed up well. More than well. Amazingly!
"What?" Ryan asked, nervously looking down at his attire. He'd obviously mis-interpreted Kelsi and Gabriella's stunned expressions. The words "No you look perfect." were on the tip of Kelsi's tongue, but Gabriella's never failing sweetness bet her to the punch.
"It's just right wildcat." she encouraged him. He grinned widely at her and Kelsi suddenly became very interested in her fingernails.
"Kelsi. Would you be able to run over to the stage and tell everyone involved in the show that's working that the show's on?" he asked her. Kelsi nodded obediently and ran out the door Troy had just left through.
"You're sounding great already." she heard Ryan say. With a last fleeting look behind her Kelsi saw him give Gabriella another warm hug beside the piano. Shaking her head violently, as if this would empty her head of thoughts of what Ryan might feel for one of her best friends, she ran all the way to the stage. As she crept backstage she instantly found Sharpay's dressing room. The sparkly pink door with 'SE' on it wasn't particularly hard to find. She could already hear voices coming from within.
"Let's get out there and knock 'em dead Troy Bolton!"
"I do the show, if the wild cats do the show."
"Yes!" Kelsi squeaked before she could stop herself. Luckily her voice was muffled by a crash from somewhere else backstage and some screams of surprise.
"And I'd think fast."
"I just sort of wish you were doing this for me. You're a good guy Troy. And actually right now, I think I like you better than I like myself." Sharpay said sadly. Kelsi smiled and Sharpay's words. The girl was actually showing her vulnerable and honest side.
"Did I just say that?" Apparently Sharpay was just as surprised as Troy looked. Troy nodded to her and went to leave, miraculously not spotting Kelsi. Being petite had it's uses.
"Girls! Places!" Sharpay ordered excitedly. Kelsi grinned to herself and ran off to try and beat Troy to the kitchen. She had to tell the wild cats that the plan was going well. On her way she stopped to tell a couple of waiters and waitresses involved in the number to spread the word that the show was still on. Then she ran as fast as her little legs could carry her.
Ryan
Ryan paced to and fro in the kitchen. Gabriella had taken her place in the stage area so that Troy could use the practice room and wouldn't see her. Everyone else was either warming up or chatting excitedly but he was too nervous about what Kelsi's verdict would be. Then Kelsi crashed through the kitchen door in her little white and blue outfit. The expression on her face gave Ryan his answer before she had to tell him.
"Ok. Everyone. Ryan." she said, turning to face him. She looked deliriously happy. "The show's on."
"Where's the music?" he asked excitedly and she handed it to him. "Where's Troy?"
"Talked to Sharpay, everything's cool." Troy said, walking through the door straight after Kelsi. Ryan looked at the small girl in admiration. She seemed to have outrun the basketball captain!
"Hey speaking of my sister. She wants you to learn a new song." Ryan said to Troy, showing him the music and sounding as calm and cheerful as he could. He noticed everyone give each other a knowing glance. Troy looked at the music, his face unreadable.
"Everyday… I can't learn a new song!" he shouted in panic.
""Kelsi'll help you with it." Ryan reassured him. Kelsi caught his eye, laughed then grabbed Troy's hand.
"C'mon!" she called happily as she dragged him towards the practice room. She looked over her shoulder on the way and gave him the thumbs up. Once they had vanished Ryan couldn't help but clap his hands together and yell, "It's show time!"
They then started to jog out the kitchen towards the stage area.
"What team?" Chad yelled and everyone, and for the first time Ryan, yelled back 'Wild cats!" He had never felt so included in his life.
Once they reached the tables set out for the audience Ryan bid farewell to the rest of the wild cats and wished them luck. He had to go backstage and see his sister. He soon found her pacing her room in a panic, her sharpettes trying to calm her down.
"Ryan! Troy's going to sing with me and…"
"I know sis." he laughed. "I came to wish you good luck." This wasn't entirely true. He had to make sure Sharpay stayed put. He still hadn't quite forgiven her, despite the fact that everything seemed to be turning out well. He did feel a little guilty when his sister's face broke out into a smile and she hugged him tightly.
"Thank you Ryan! I was so horrible. I'm so sorry! But it's all going to work out now!" she squealed happily. Ryan looked at her without emotion. She said she was sorry, but she sure as hell didn't look it. To him it looked like she was happy to have her cake and eat it too. As far as she knew she was able to sing with Troy AND make amends with her brother and school mates.
"Where's Troy?" she asked brightly, after releasing him. Ryan shrugged, putting on a fake smile. Sharpay's jaw dropped.
"We need to go on NOW!" she hissed.
"I'm sure he won't be long." Ryan replied cheerfully. About half an hour later Sharpay was wearing a hoe into the carpet.
"Where is Troy?!" Sharpay demanded for about the fiftieth time since Ryan had arrived. Just then Troy came stumbling through the door in the white suit that Ryan had picked out for him.
"Hey!" he said accusingly. "Why'd you switch songs?"
Sharpay and her Sharpettes looked at him blankly. Ryan desperately tried to keep his expression neutral.
"Switch songs?" Sharpay managed to stutter. "What?!" Troy looked back at her, confusion written all over his face.
"Yeah Ryan said…"
Ryan started to back away just in case his sister saw red straight away and instinctively lashed out. Right then, however, she just looked plain bewildered. Mr Fulton appeared from nowhere and had started pulling him towards the stage while Sharpay stood completely stationary, still looking clueless.
"But I didn't learn a new song…" she said feebly. Ryan couldn't help himself. Patting his sister on the shoulder he whispered in her ear.
"Exactly."
Ryan saw his sister's face turn from confusion to suspicion and finally to comprehension. Walking away towards the exit so he could witness the number, the last thing he heard was an offended squeak from Sharpay. He grinned. Revenge was sweet. Running to the side of the stage he managed to make it just in time to see Kelsi playing the beginning of the song. THEIR song. He watched her fondly as she mouthed the words to Troy in encouragement.
Kelsi
"Make it last forever, and never give it back."
Kelsi thought Troy's face would make her burst with joy. First he looked at her with confusion. She smiled knowingly at him and his eyes widened in disbelief. She watched him searching the crowds as he sang at the same time. And when Gabriella revealed herself and he began to sing the chorus she nearly laughed out loud he looked so amazed. Everything at worked out perfectly. She looked at Gabriella's face and she swore the smile she wore would never be moved. They moved towards each other as if hypnotised and the small intimate embrace they shared when they met was so beautiful to witness that everyone, including herself, cheered. Kelsi sighed as she played. She and Ryan had been right. This was perfect for a couple like Gabriella and Troy, who cared so much about each other. Ryan had got the lyrics spot on. Wait, where was Ryan? He wasn't at the back with everyone else. She glance to her right and saw him at the side of the stage, arms folded and his face alight with glee. Kelsi more than anyone knew how it felt to see a song she was proud of performed. Ryan's face was an exact copy of what hers had been when Troy and Gabriella had first performed 'Breaking Free' in public. Ryan caught her eye and mouthed the words to her.
"Because of you I've got the strength to start." Kelsi didn't have enough time to ponder if him singing that to her had any significance as the chorus kicked in and her two talented friends skipped over to her piano to sing beside her. She smiled gratefully and sang along with them, revelling in how happy the couple looked. They then skipped back to the middle for the bridge and as Kelsi played
the quieter version of the chorus she stole another look at Ryan. He mimed wiping a tear from his eye at the emotional moment in the song and Kelsi laughed. Then he pointed at her, mimed playing the piano and put his thumbs up in approval. She grinned back and built up the momentum for the next chorus and watched happily as the rest of the wild cats join in and make their way towards the stage.
Ryan
Ryan received Gabriella's hand and ran onto the stage with her. He looked proudly at the group of people on the stage. Everyone looked so happy to be performing! And he believed that might have been down to him. He was the proudest choreographer in the world when everyone started to improvise at the end of the song. After they all took their bow he saw Kelsi run over and squeeze herself between Troy and Gabriella. He looked at her with more pride and admiration than anyone else and sincerely hoped everyone else felt the same way. Therefore he started a cheer just for Kelsi. Kelsi being Kelsi blushed, stepped forward and applauded the rest of the wild cats.
Kelsi
"Fabulous! Fabulous!" Mr Fulton exclaimed as he walked onto the stage applauding. Kelsi was only half listening though. She was being congratulated and thanked by various different people. She was just telling Chad how good a job he had done she heard Mr Fulton say,
"The Stardazzle for this year goes to, of course…" he added, giving Sharpay a knowing look. Kelsi shook her head. Everyone knew Sharpay didn't deserve the award. But no one cared anymore. If Sharpay wanted to take credit for their hard work she could have that piece of metal and no friends.
"Our one and only…"
Suddenly Sharpay grabbed the microphone and the trophy from Mr Fulton.
"My brother, Ryan Evans!" she called out proudly. Everyone looked at Ryan in amazement then started cheering. He looked so genuinely surprised and incredibly pleased with himself. Giving his sister a warm hug, everyone saw an exchange pass between them. No one heard what it was, but it seemed to resolve everything.
Ryan
"Sis… what?!" Ryan asked in disbelief, whilst people cheered around him.
"You deserve it little brother!" she yelled over the noise. Ryan laughed incredulously.
"I'm six minutes younger!"
"Whatever. This is amazing and I wanted to make up for being a horrible big sister." she shouted giving him another hug.
"Six minutes older, you're hardly a big sister." Ryan laughed. "But seriously, Sharpay, thanks. This means so much to me." he smiled. She returned his smile.
"I knew it would." she said quietly, but enough for him to hear. She had finally come through for him.
