Disclaimer: I do not own High School Musical, High School Musical 2, or High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
A/N:I know chapters are few and far between, but my life always has one thing after another…at least at this point in time. Enjoy this chapter everyone!
Chapter 13: A Rift is Created
"Get them all together?" questioned a skeptical Ryan. "Doesn't that seem a bit…dangerous?" He, Kelsi and Chad were discussing the next step in their mission. They were at the hotel in which Ryan was currently staying.
"They won't kill you, Ryan," replied Chad. Ryan gave him an are-you-kidding-me look. "Well, at least not literally."
"You know why we want to go one-by-one," Kelsi stated. "What's your reasoning for getting them together?"
"Too many witnesses, for one," he looked at the frowning faces and continued. "Okay, so not the time for jokes. First, you'd only have to tell your story one more time, rather than several."
"I don't mind telling it several times."
"That's good, but this way there is a possibility for debate."
"Explain," demanded Kelsi.
"Well, it would be easy for them to say "No" and kick Ryan out if it was only one-on-one. Having a few of us on each side will give them the opportunity to hear our reasoning for siding with Ryan's point. We can try to counter their points with ours, and hopefully we'll persuade them to our side."
"That actually made a lot of sense," said a semi-stunned Kelsi.
"I agree. Let's do this."
"Great! Kelsi, we're all meeting at my place for the barbeque at three. We'll be eating about four. Ryan, you should come around five, when we're all full, and hopefully nicer."
"Works for me," agreed Ryan.
"Alright, let's do this!" Kelsi added enthusiastically.
The guests had just finished eating, some even with their second helpings. "Wow, Gab, your third helping," joked Chad as he put the third burger on her plate.
"I'm pregnant and hungry, so sue me," she played along, sticking her tongue out at him for good measure.
"Oh, very mature," he replied.
"That's my Gabriella. The most mature in the land," confirmed Troy as he walked up behind his wife. He kissed her on the cheek, and she walked off. "Do you need any help, Man?" he asked as he continued to admire his wife.
Chad smirked after following his friend's gaze. "No, I'm fine. Go be with you…" He trailed off as he heard the doorbell. He shared a quick glance with Kelsi and Jason. "Actually, yes, take over while I answer the door." He shoved the barbeque fork in Troy's hand and ran towards the home. "I'll get it!" he yelled as if he were an eager five year old.
"Your betrothed is strange," stated Sharpay.
"Huh, you're telling me," Taylor agreed.
"You are not welcome here!" they heard Chad yell. The next thing they knew, Ryan was storming out the back door. Chad caught up with him, grabbed his shoulder, and turned him around. "You need to leave now!"
"No, I need to explain myself to all of you. I'm not leaving until I do." Ryan turned around and continued toward the group.
By now, all the men were standing, appearing as if ready to pounce. Troy was the most apparent. All eyes were on him as he said, "You're trespassing. Someone call the police."
"Look, I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to explain what I did and why."
"Well, we don't want to hear it," stated Zeke, standing next to Sharpay, who had a look of sadness, pain, and anger on her face, which was looking away.
"Maybe we should hear him out," Kelsi spoke up. Everyone looked at her like she was crazy. "He sounds genuine, and no matter what he says, we don't need to forgive him."
"I agree. If Kelsi wants to give him a chance, so will I." Now everyone looked at Jason.
Silence fell around the group. Ryan, Kelsi, Jason, and Chad were hoping for Ryan's cause. They looked at each other for a minute or two when Sharpay, not looking at her brother, but at the grass, said, "Let him talk."
Everyone present was shocked that Sharpay said this. Zeke then spoke up. "If it's okay with Sharpay, it's okay with me." Slowly, everyone nodded approval, although Troy was still fuming.
Relieved, Chad put out the barbeque fire and proceeded to sit down. Everyone was ready to listen, however openly their hearts would allow.
Ryan explained how he was jealous, and how he just wanted to make Troy temporarily embarrassed; how he hoped Gabriella might realize how awful Troy looked and would change her mind. He explained how he was a very brainless teenager, and how he now realizes how idiotic that thinking was. He told them that he ran away to avoid Troy's wrath, which surely would have hurt Ryan. The others had to nod in agreement. Then he told them that the death of his mom was what prompted him to come back since he felt it was his own fault. He even explained how Derby Evans appeared to him in a dream, explaining to him it wasn't his fault, and how she urged him to apologize. He then did apologize, and he waited for a response.
The group looked around at each other. Chad and Kelsi were especially anticipating the first utterance. Sharpay, having not looked away from the grass, asked with anger and through tears, "Why didn't you come back sooner? Why didn't you come back when you realized you had made a dumb mistake?"
"I was scared. I was afraid you'd hate me, and the longer a person runs from something, the harder it is to come back. Sharpay, I know you blame me for what happened to Mom, and I still feel guilty, even after her visit."
"Oh, please. I don't believe she came to you. You know," she said, looking him in the eye, "I can forgive you for that dumb prank, but never will I forgive you for abandoning Mom." She paused for a few moments. She then finished her sentence. "And never will I forgive you for abandoning me!" Sharpay then ran out the gate, tears flowing freely. Zeke glared at Ryan, and then ran after his girlfriend.
"I think it's safe to say that we all agree with Sharpay," said Taylor while standing. "You need to leave now, Ryan."
"Actually," Kelsi began timidly, "I think Ryan has a good point. He made a dumb mistake, just as we all do. As adults we should be ale to forgive that. We also can't blame him for what was happening in the mind of someone else."
"What are you saying?" questioned Gabriella.
"I'm saying," continued Kelsi as she stood up, "that the characters in that script I wrote were based on us, and the situation was based on this situation with Ryan. If I remember correctly, several of you were wondering if the storyline was even possible. You were afraid they were all too immature, and you all wanted them to forgive each other in the end. Don't you think you should take your own advice and forgive Ryan in the end?"
"The difference between your script and this situation is that your script is fiction. Fiction is the only place ideal endings are possible," said Troy.
"Troy makes a point," said Taylor. "Reality like isn't as black and white as fiction."
"So, what you're saying is none of you can forgive Ryan?" Kelsi asked for clarification.
There were nods as Taylor said, "Are you saying you do forgive him?" Kelsi nodded her head. "How could you!"
"I could because I realized how wrong I was; how wrong we all are, and I'm not the only one who has."
"What do you mean? It seems to you are the only one who has forgiven this bozo."
"I've forgiven him, too, Troy," admitted Jason. Meanwhile, Chad was dreading what might happen next. He was probably about to get on the bad side of his wife and best friend.
"Well, then you two are the only ones!" stated Taylor.
"Actually, there is one more person."
"Who?" Troy, Gabriella and Taylor asked simultaneously.
"I agree with Jason and Kelsi," Chad finally spoke. He was met with surprised, yet angry, glares from his wife and friends. "I wasn't sure whether to forgive him or not, but after talking to Taylor, and I'm sorry, but after realizing how dumb this grudge sounded, I had no choice but to take Ryan's side in this."
"I can not believe this!" shouted Taylor. As Troy helped Gabriella out of her chair, Taylor stormed into the house and up the stairs.
Troy slowly approached Chad with a look of sadness on his face. "Chad, I thought I could count on you to always be on my side." He grabbed Gabriella's hand, and they walked out the gate.
"I'm sorry, Chad. I didn't mean to cause this much trouble," said a guilty Ryan.
"Don't worry about it, Man. This will blow over eventually. Knowing that I'm on the right side of this disagreement makes feel better."
"We're all going to go so you can try to fix things with Taylor."
"Thanks, Kelsi." She smiled a small smile that was returned with an equally small smile.
As Chad entered the house to deal with the wrath of his wife, Ryan, Kelsi and Jason had left.