Feelin' like a date! Thanks for readings and reviewing.
Kelsi felt like she had been functioning in some sort of dazed state all day long. Partly because she had gotten next to no sleep the night before, she just laid in bed fretting about her upcoming date with Ryan. And that was the other reason for her out-of-body state...Ryan...and the date. She couldn't seem to wrap her mind around the idea of being alone with him on an official date...as in just the two of them. Ryan had actually been the last person she had been on a date with, and that was almost six years ago. For the last five years Kelsi's idea of a date consisted of eating dinner and renting a movie with her daughter. If she felt like really living on the edge she would let Grace invite Izzie over to spend the night. And the worst part of the whole ordeal was that Kelsi kept spacing out throughout her day, the anxiety of the evening ahead of her always riding just below the surface.
Grace had a feeling something wasn't quite right with her Mommy. She knew something was wrong at breakfast when her Mommy put orange juice in her cheerios. Her Mommy didn't look unhappy, just nervous. Grace decided to get right to the point, per usual.
"Mommy, what's wrong? You put orange juice in my cheerios instead of milk." Grace asked, worry bringing her eyebrows closer together.
Kelsi looked over at her daughter with surprise. First taking in Grace's worried frown and then letting her gaze fall to the bowl of cheerios bobbing in a sea of orange juice. Kelsi quickly made her way over to Grace and the ruined bowl of cereal.
"I'm sorry baby. I guess I'm not really feeling like myself today. Let me fix these for you okay?" Kelsi said, picking up the orange juice infested cereal.
Grace didn't understand why her Mommy wasn't feeling like herself, she still looked the same and everything. As Grace pondered her Mommy's odd response the doorbell rang announcing Kelsi's first student of the day. Grace jumped up at the sound of the bell, doing an impromptu dance on her way to the front door. She knew her next door neighbor Elliot was standing there waiting, and she kind of had a teeny tiny crush on him, after all he wore glasses just like her. Grace quickly pulled the door open to reveal a little bespectacled blond haired boy whose gaze was nailed to the front step .
"Hi Elliot. My Mommy's not feeling like herself today." Grace said, greeting her friend.
Kelsi smiled to herself upon hearing her daughter's exchange with Elliot. Elliot was one of Kelsi's favorite students, he reminded her of a male version of herself as a child. He was painfully shy, but had the ability to come alive while playing the piano. Kelsi moved behind Grace, placing her hands gently on her daughter's narrow shoulders.
"Hi Elliot, are you ready to get started on some practice scales?" Kelsi said in an equally friendly and gentle manner.
Elliot's mouth moved into a sweet smile as he looked from Kelsi to Grace.
"Sure Miss Kelsi, that sounds great." Elliot took a meaningful pause before turning his focus to Grace. "Hi Grace, you look nice today." The shy boy said as a blush spread over his body.
Kelsi watched as a sweet pink glow shined upon Grace's cheeks.
"Thanks Elliot. Maybe we can play legos when you're done?" Grace asked with a twinge of hope.
Elliot's blush had not yet gone down.
"Sure, I'll just call my Mom after practice to let her know." Elliot said with a bashful smile.
Kelsi worked to stifle her grin as she watched Grace and Elliot. She couldn't help but be reminded of a younger version of herself and Ryan, except with a gender switch. Hopefully the future wouldn't prove to be as complicated for the two youths. She quickly tried to push thoughts of Ryan to the back of her mind as she and Elliot made their ways towards the piano.
As Kelsi and Elliot were practicing at the piano Grace took the time to think about her Mommy and Daddy. Grace loved having her Mommy all to herself, but she knew that she and her parents would be happiest having a family all together. She knew her parents still loved each other, Grace could see it in their eyes every time they looked at one another. And sometimes she would catch her Mommy looking at her Daddy when he wasn't paying attention...hmm...maybe she was going to have to help her Daddy pay more attention. It was obvious they needed help...a little push in the right direction. And well, Grace knew how to push really well.
Grace wasn't the only person thinking about her parents, at that exact moment her Daddy and Aunt Sharpay were talking about both Kelsi and Grace.
Ryan had woken up feeling rejuvenated, he was thrilled at the prospect of a date with Kelsi. Now he just had to figure out what they were going to do on their date. There were many possibilities, he could take her to one of their old haunts, go to the movies, dancing or something completely new.
Sharpay breezed into Ryan's room as he sat at his desk pondering.
"Earth to Ryan! Are you there?" Sharpay pointedly asked her brother.
Ryan quickly snapped out of his daydreams.
"Oh, hey Shar. What's up?" Ryan asked.
Sharpay looked at Ryan like he had sprouted horns.
"What's up? Did you seriously just ask me what's up?" Sharpay asked incredulously.
Ryan couldn't help thinking it was way too early to be dealing with his sister...especially two mornings in one week. He hadn't been subjected to early morning Sharpay since high school. He positioned his chair to give her the audience she was sure to require.
"I am a little scared to admit this now, but yeah, I did just ask you what's up." Ryan countered slowly.
Sharpay started pacing.
"Oh well let's see shall we, you have a 5 year old daughter...who is amazing by the way." Sharpay started.
"Thank you." Ryan immediately answered.
"Ryan! I wasn't done. God, what is it with your need to interrupt?" Sharpay looked at her twin in exasperation before continuing. "You have left the "Wicked" tour to live in Albuquerque for who knows how long."
"I'm not planning on leaving." Ryan yet again added.
Sharpay stopped pacing and stared pointedly at her brother.
"Seriously Ryan!" Sharpay said, her voice raising.
Ryan actually looked at little sheepish.
"Sorry Shar, no more interruptions." Ryan promised.
Sharpay once again resumed her pacing. Ryan couldn't help but wonder how she didn't get dizzy from moving back and forth in the same pattern, because he was certainly getting dizzy watching her.
"And last, but most definitely not least you are still in love with your daughter's mother. The same woman who decided not to tell you about the baby you both made together." Sharpay finished.
Ryan looked at his sister, a stunned look across his features.
"How did you know I was still in love with Kelsi?" Ryan asked with shock.
Sharpay gave her brother a look that totally said "C'mon Ry" before verbalizing her thoughts.
"I'm your twin sister Ryan, I know you better than anyone. And if I had a dollar for every time I saw either you or Kelsi stealing a look at one another I would be almost as rich as I already am." Sharpay stopped with a meaningful pause. "Did that last bit make sense?"
Ryan sat there shaking his head and smiling at his sister.
"Oddly enough, yeah...you made perfect sense." Ryan said with mock wonder.
Sharpay once again stopped pacing to look at her brother.
"So what are you going to do Ry?" Sharpay asked, concern apparent in her eyes.
"Well, presently I am trying to figure out where to take Kelsi on a date tonight. Then I need to find a babysitter for Grace." Ryan answered in a matter of fact manner.
Sharpay's brown eyes looked like they were ready to bulge out of her head.
"Whoa, hold up...you are taking Kelsi on a date? Are you two, like, getting back together or something." Sharpay asked, surprise lacing her tone.
"Well, I am voting for the getting back together, but I think Kelsi is leaning more towards the or something." Ryan responded, using his sister's phrasing.
The shock had not worn off Sharpay yet. She couldn't believe both her brother and Kelsi were putting themselves in this vulnerable position so soon after being reunited.
"Ryan, are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, you both have Grace's feelings to consider; if something doesn't work out between you two that little girl is going to be shattered." Sharpay stated, her protective streak coming into full effect regarding her niece.
Ryan was not surprised by Sharpay's observation, he had already thought through the same concerns regarding his daughter.
"Shar, I don't know what's going to happen with Kelsi and I. But please know Grace's emotional well-being is at the forefront of my mind. I do know that I am mad crazy in love with both Kelsi and Grace. And in my perfect happily ever after the three of us are a family." Ryan told his sister with conviction.
Sharpay stared at her brother, brown eyes meeting blue. The brown eyes finally conceded.
"Zeke and I will babysit Grace for you guys." Sharpay said quietly.
Ryan stood up from his chair, walked over to his sister and wrapped her in a strong embrace.
"Thanks Shar." Ryan said meaningfully.
Sharpay stepped away to look up at her brother.
"I'll support you Ryan. I just want you to be happy." Sharpay stated with love.
"I'm working on that, and this date tonight is a big step towards that goal." Ryan admitted to his sister.
"What time do you want Zeke and I at Kelsi's house?" Sharpay asked, showing her support with not just words, but action too.
Ryan looked at his sister and was overwhelmed with gratitude. Sharpay had come a long way. She wouldn't have always been capable of offering support to something she didn't understand.
"I love you Shar." Ryan stated simply.
Sharpay smiled at her brother, tears starting to cloud her expressive eyes.
"God, between you and Zeke it's no wonder I'm going all soft....oh, and I love you too Ry."
For the rest of the day Ryan planned. Not only his upcoming date with Kelsi, but also how he was going to break down her defenses and win her heart again.
If Kelsi had known the direction of Ryan's thoughts it would have doubled her nervousness. So it was fortunate she was unaware because as it was Kelsi was a complete basket case. After she ran into her piano twice and tripped over her own feet three times, she was more than a little worried about how she would function on her date with Ryan. Grace was obviously not immune to her Mommy's weird mood. (Orange juice in cereal anyone?) After Elliot had headed home and all of Kelsi's students were done for the day Grace decided to confront her Mommy once again.
"Mommy what is wrong with you today? You are acting a little clumsy and I keep hearing you talk to yourself." Grace asked, her big blue eyes filled with concern.
Kelsi stopped trying to make dinner for Grace and focused her full attention on her daughter.
"I have been acting a little silly today haven't I?" Kelsi said, sitting down at the kitchen table and placing her hand over Grace's.
Grace grasped her Mommy's hand.
"A little silly? You have been a lot silly." Grace admitted with a child's honesty.
Kelsi felt a giggle escape her lips in response to her little girl's phrasing and emphasis.
"Well, I have been a lot silly because I am going out with your Daddy tonight." Kelsi told her daughter.
Grace looked at her mother with confusion.
"Why would you be silly when all you are doing is seeing Daddy? Do I get to see Daddy too?" Grace asked, excitement showing across her face.
Kelsi smiled warmly at her daughter.
"Mommy and Daddy are going out alone tonight. And that's why I have been a little- sorry, a lot silly...I'm nervous." Kelsi explained to Grace.
Grace instantly understood her Mommy. She remembered how pink her Mommy's cheeks got whenever her Daddy was around and how she was always watching him when he wasn't looking. Grace decided that her Mommy and Daddy going out alone was probably a great idea.
"Well, I think it's great you are going out alone with Daddy." Grace confided.
Kelsi looked at her daughter. "And why is that?" She asked curiously.
Grace was nothing if not honest with her Mommy.
"Because you love him silly." The little girl answered with a smile.
Kelsi stared at her daughter in shock, color quickly covering her cheeks. She worried through a response for her daughter but couldn't come up with anything except the truth.
"You're right baby, I do love your Daddy. I never stopped in fact." Kelsi said with simple and beautiful honesty.
Grace smiled a huge smile at her Mommy.
"Well then I think you should stop worrying about being nervous because he loves you too."
Kelsi looked at her daughter speechless. She was amazed by some of the things that came out of her baby's mouth, at times it seemed like there was an adult inside Grace's small body. Grace noticed that her Mommy didn't look like she was going to be speaking any time soon.
"Can I have some of your homemade mac and cheese for dinner Mommy? And then we can pick out what you are going to wear on your hot date with Daddy."