The Deal

Kelsi watched Ryan and Gabriella rehearse Don and Kathy's first scene, and felt envy bubble up in her chest. She sighed and shook it away. Gabriella was her friend and she couldn't help it if Ryan had feelings for her. Heck, she didn't even know. No, she refused to be jealous of Gabby or at least refused to let effect their friendship. The scene ended and Ms. Darbus went up on stage to give Ryan and Gabriella her notes on what needed to improve. Once she had spoken to them she turned around and dismissed the cast. Out of the corner of her eye Kelsi saw Luke head down the steps that lead from the stage to the house.

"Luke!" She called after him.

He turned with a smile, "Yeah, Kels?"

"Can we talk?" She asked.

"Of course," he said as he waited on Kelsi to join him. The two of them walked toward the back of the auditorium and sat down in a more secluded corner.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Ryan asked Gabriella as he motioned after Kelsi and Luke.

Gabriella quirked an eyebrow at him, "You haven't heard?"

"Heard, what?" He asked.

"Luke asked her out," Gabriella said with a smile. "They're really adorable."

"He what?"

"I can't believe Kelsi didn't tell you," Gabriella said suspiciously.

"She said he was flirty, but that's it," Ryan said in confusion.

"He's a bit more than flirty," Gabriella chuckled.

Ryan craned his neck in an effort to see Kelsi and Luke, but it was a little too dark for him to see. Gabriella watched Ryan with a smirk. He was very curious almost too curious. She noticed a determined gleam in his eye as he turned and headed backstage. She watched as Ryan approached a series of switches and knobs installed in the wall. He squinted at the labels until he found the dial he wanted. Gabriella was NOT surprised when the house lights came on. She held back a laugh as Ryan came back out onto the stage and glanced out at the seats. Kelsi looked back up at Ryan in confusion.

"Do you need something, Ryan?" She asked.

"Me? No, no I don't need anything. Ms. D just asked me to turn on the lights," he lied.

"Why would she do that? Rehearsal is over, she likes the house lights off as soon as we're done," Luke called back in confusion.

Ryan huffed lightly before faking a smile in their direction, "Right, my bad, I must have misunderstood. I'll go turn them off."

As he walked off stage Gabriella followed him.

"What was that?" She asked.

"What was what?" He asked cluelessly.

"The house lights thing," Gabriella said with a knowing look. "You KNOW Ms. Darbus HATES to leave the lights on."

He sighed, "I just wanted-"

"To ruin the mood for Kelsi and Luke?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, no, I just-"

"Wanted to see if they were making out?"

He glared at Gabriella, "No, that's-"

"Oh, you wanted to keep them from being alone together?"

"I give up," Ryan stated as he ignored Gabriella and walked off stage.

"Oh, come on, Ryan. What's going on here? I thought you and Kelsi were just friends?"

"We are!" He yelled in frustration as he kept on walking. Gabriella stopped following him and chuckled as she watched him go.

"That's what you think, Evans," She smiled.

"What was that about?" Luke asked her.

She shrugged, "He probably really did misunderstand. Why else would he turn on the lights?"

"I don't know, it seemed like he was trying to spy on us or something," Luke said thoughtfully.

"Ryan? Spy on us? Why?"

"Maybe he likes you?"

"If Jason had been the one to turn on the lights I would agree with you, but it was Ryan-"

"And he's caught up in Gabriella-Land. Yeah, I've noticed," Luke nodded. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Um, well I've been thinking about your question," She said.

"The question in which I asked you out to dinner and movie?" He said with an amused grin.

"Yes, that one. I'm not sure it's a good idea. I mean I do like you, but well…there's this guy and I'm definitely not over him. Heck, I have a feeling this crush is just getting started actually and I don't think it's fair to you if I-"

"I'm gonna stop you right there," Luke said with a soft smile. "So you like me, but you're still feeling this other guy…okay, then let's make a deal."

"A deal? What kind of a deal?" She asked curiously.

He smiled, "Every Friday you let me drive you home, and once we get to your house you can tell me whether or not you're ready to date me. That way whenever you are or if you ever are I'll at least know something about you."

She bit her bottom lip as she considered it. It seemed relatively safe, and besides that meant one less day she had to ride the bus or scrounge up a ride, "Okay, deal."

He nodded, "Okay, I'll see you Friday then?"

"Of course," She said with a relieved sigh. He left and Kelsi couldn't resist watching him go. Should she really be moping around waiting for Ryan to realize she's alive? Who's to say he ever would? Besides Luke was a very nice guy, and she definitely had more than friendly feelings toward him. They weren't quite as strong as what she felt for Ryan, but he didn't leave her with that sisterly feeling like Jason did either. Kelsi gathered up her stuff and headed toward the front of the school. She cursed at herself when she realized that she had completely forgotten to ask someone to hang around and give her a ride. She groaned as she reached the front doors.

"Great," She said sarcastically.

"Need a ride, Kels?" Ryan asked. She jumped in surprise and turned toward him.

"What are you still doing here?" She asked.

"I left my notebook in my locker and had to go back and get it," He told her. "So, do you need a ride?"

She smiled gratefully, "Yes, actually, I do."

"C'mon, I'll take you home," He offered as he motioned for her to follow him.

"You didn't ride with Sharpay?" Kelsi asked.

"Got my own ride last week. It's not a Mustang or anything, but I like it," He grinned as he stopped by a blue Vespa.

She chuckled, "This is yours?"

He nodded, "It's very eco-friendly of me, don't you think?"

She smiled and nodded, "Extremely eco-friendly."

He handed her the spare helmet that he kept with him just in case. She put it on and buckled the strap. She couldn't help but suspect that she looked terrible in the helmet. Ryan turned and smiled at the sight of Kelsi with the plain white helmet on.

He chuckled, "Cute."

Her eyebrows shot upward, "Really?"

"Definitely," He said as he got on the Vespa and motioned for Kelsi to get on behind him. "You should wear one of your first date with Luke."

Before Kelsi could tell him that there was no date Ryan started the Vespa and took off. She wrapped her arms around his middle to brace herself from the unexpected burst forward. She took a deep breath and decided to tell him anyway.

"Ryan," She said loud enough so he could hear her over the buzzing of the wind and street noise. "There is no date with Luke…not yet anyway. He's just taking me home on Fridays."

"But you're not dismissing the possibility of a date in the future?" He asked back. He took a sharp turn and Kelsi tightened her grip around his chest.

"I was taught never to dismiss any possibility," Kelsi told him.

For some reason that comment made Ryan's stomach knot up. There was no date, but she hadn't really said no. Why did that bother him? They were friends, that's all. He knew that, and she knew that. Besides he was currently harboring a pointless crush on Gabriella Montez. Why hadn't she told him Luke had asked her out? Why did it bother him that she didn't? And WHY did he turn those damn house lights on earlier? What was he hoping to accomplish by doing that?

"Ryan!"

He shook his thoughts away at the sound of Kelsi's voice, "Yeah?"

"You missed my house," She told him.

"Oh! Sorry about that. I'll turn around," He said as he silently cursed himself.

What was his problem?