Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to update! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I really appreciate it, especially the ones who take the time to review more than once. I've been so busy with school and the fall play and everything else. Being a senior is difficult. So now, for your patience, I shall catch up by uploading in bulk yet again. I hope you enjoy. 3

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Kelsi was sitting at the piano when Ryan walked in. "Good morning," he said.

"Morning," Kelsi said. "I have a song done for the show... I really think we should try to get Troy to rejoin us." Ryan paused but nodded. He wasn't stupid. He knew Troy and Gabriella belonged together. He didn't know that the reason Kelsi said that was because she didn't want Ryan to like Gabriella anymore than he already did by dancing with her in the show. "Here's the song," she said, handing him the music. It was called Everyday, and while she could play it off as being about Troy, it was really about Ryan and how he was finally breaking away from his sister and being himself. It was about how she thought he was trying to be something he wasn't just so he could have success and win parts in musicals...

"Play it?" Ryan suggested. Kelsi started and Ryan sat on top of the piano. He sang along. "Once in a lifetime means there's no second chance, so I believe that you and me should grab it while we can..." Kelsi felt her heart swell as he sang her lyrics.

"Make it last forever and never give it back," she sang, smiling shyly at him.

"It's our turn and I'm loving where we're at," Ryan smiled. He loved the feeling of singing with Kelsi. It was refreshing.

"Because this moment's really all we have," they sang together. Kelsi knew she didn't have the best voice, but she didn't care. She was singing a duet about the guy of her dreams with the guy of her dreams. In that moment, Jason didn't exist.

"Every day of our lives,"

"Wanna find you there, wanna hold on tight."

"Gonna run while we're young and keep the faith."

"Every day from right now, gonna use our voices and sing out loud."

"Take my hand, together we will celebrate everyday."

"It's beautiful," Ryan said. Kelsi smiled. "It's perfect for the situation, too. You're a genius, Kelsi." She blushed furiously.

"Thanks. It's not much, really," she said, feeling embarrassed. She wasn't used to compliments.

He read over the rest of the lyrics, shaking his head as he smiled. "Kels, this song is great. You have a real talent."

"Yeah, well, I just had to slaughter my last one for your sister..." She played the upbeat version of You Are the Music in Me. "I hate that she takes my most meaningful love songs and strips all of the passion out of them... I have to go to her rehearsal in a few minutes so I can watch my work be destroyed again," she muttered. She sighed and shook her head.

"I'm sorry," Ryan frowned. "I'm going to go work out some choreography, but I'll catch you later?" Kelsi nodded. He left and she went to go to the stage outside where Sharpay and Troy would be practicing for their act.

She left feeling destroyed. After Sharpay's lights and frills and sparks and whatever else, she didn't know how anyone would be able to appreciate her song. Her hands were sore and tired from playing the piano at such a rapid speed, and she hated how things were turning out for her—not only was her song ruined, but Troy wouldn't be a part of their act, and Ryan liked Gabriella. How could things get any worse? She sat at home that night and found her answer.

She had a letter sitting on the counter for her. Her parents obviously hadn't looked at it very carefully, or they would've thrown it out. It was from Jeremy. She felt her stomach turn. She didn't know what to do. She stared at it, her heart racing as she struggled to breathe. This was so much worse than the instant message he had sent her before, because this provided her with a horrible realization. He knew where she lived.

She panicked. She had no idea what to do or think so she did the first thing she thought of. She grabbed the letter and ran. She didn't exactly know where she was doing until she realized that she was in Jason's neighborhood. She and Jason had been together for months, and he had always been good to her. It couldn't hurt for her to trust him with her secret, even if she didn't tell him the whole thing... She went up and knocked on his door, ready to spill her guts.