ONE YEAR LATER

Ryan toyed with the plastic rectangle on the lanyard he was given by some big burly guy. It gave him permission to be here, but that did not make him any less nervous. He constantly felt like he was in the wrong place, in the way of someone else, or both. It reaffirmed that teaching was his calling rather than a big stage. Someone yelled "CUT!" and he saw Sharpay looking around for him. He waved brightly.

Sharpay looked even more flawless as usual and he told her so as he gave her a hug. She looked every bit the lead that she was thanks to a professional hair and makeup team. The show A Girl's Best Friend was almost through filming season two. Several episodes had already aired and it was tracking to be more popular than the fist. Sharpay had already sent him pictures of the promotional billboards with her face on them. She began showing him around the set, introducing him to her costars, and snagged a few snacks off of a lavish cart. It was effortless for her. Her success was no surprise to Ryan, he knew she had the talent, but her demeanor was something he had never seen before. She fit right in but still commanded attention at the same time. The corners of his mouth were in a permanent smile watching her.

"So we can hang out in my trailer for an hour or so until they call me back after break," she said, weaving through a maze of plywood covered sets. He saw staircases that lead directly into ceilings and doors that opened into walls. The backs of the sets were all raw wood, taped electrical cords, and random scribbles in black marker. "I had food delivered from that Mexican-Korean fusion place you like so much."

Ryan stepped over a bunch of yellow-taped wires. "That's the main reason I'm here," he teased.

"I'm well aware." She smiled and opened a door that actually functioned. The fresh air was a welcome change, that perfect temperature that only California had. Another maze of silver trailers later, they arrived in hers. True to form, there were pink furry cushions on the tiny couch.

Sharpay opened the brown bag of food and passed Ryan his tempura tofu tacos. "I'm so glad you are filming in the summer this year! I've always wanted to see what it was like."

"It's eighty percent waiting and twenty percent acting," she said with a laugh. "And that's being generous." She shared some of her poblano mozzarella quesadilla with him. "I really like touring afterwards. Meeting people, interviews, all that. If I ever manage to get a spot on Saturday Night Live, you'll be my plus one, promise."

Ryan dropped his taco to cross his fingers and shake them towards the heavens. He was playing it up for his sister, but he knew it was just a matter of time. "So, Gabriella tells me you've been seeing someone," he said, trailing off.

Sharpay squinted at him. "I knew I shouldn't have told her. Blabbermouth." Ryan laughed and made excuses for his friend. "Fine. Yes. Casually."

"Girl. Do you really think that's enough detail for your loving and devoted brother?" He shook his head.

"Brian. He's not in entertainment. He's a real estate agent in West Hollywood. We both want to travel. He doesn't get inpatient about my shooting schedule. Oh, and he's teaching me how to paddleboard." Once she began gushing, the details just poured out. Ryan listened as a captive audience, eager to hear more. He didn't care so much as who this guy was, but that his sister was this excited about someone. He always had a nagging feeling that she was lonely out in a city full of self important people and it made his heart hurt. Sharpay needed someone to spend her personal time with, even more so since so much of who she was was publicly consumed. He was genuinely happy for her new romance.

Chad opened the door only to slam it back shut. The emergency exit information for the hotel seemed like a great escape plan. He chided himself for his cowardice. He could do this. Just not in these shoes. He exchanged the brown leather shoes he was wearing for a pair of solid black running shoes. This time, he actually walked out the door and made his way to the lobby.

Taylor was waiting for him in the vestibule. She was easy to spot in dark jeans and a purple tee. Her whole body shook with the timing of her tapping foot. Chad double checked his watch to make sure he wasn't late. Six minutes ahead of schedule. She must just be as nervous as he was. When he was close enough to her, he didn't know if he was supposed to hug her or kiss her or shake her hand. What was appropriate? She answered it for him, hugging him tightly but quickly.

She stepped away to reveal a tiny girl behind her. The girl was a spitting image of her mother, the set of her eyes and her nose identical. Adrie smiled brightly, revealing a missing front tooth.

"Hi. Did you have to tie a string around that thing?" he greeted, tapping his own front teeth with a finger.

She blanched and Taylor laughed. Adrie shook her head vigorously. "No way!"

"She wouldn't even let me touch it," Taylor added in.

"It finally came out on taco night!" Adrie said proudly. Chad laughed along with Taylor.

"Well, it's nice to finally meet you, Adrie. I'm Chad." He reached out his hand.

Adrie shook his hand without hesitation. "I know," she said, flashing her gapped smile. "You're my mom's boyfriend."

Taylor barked out a quick laugh as Chad stumbled for words. "Yes," he muttered. The young girl was so matter-of-fact, completely confident just like her mother. It made him shake his head and smile.

Taylor reached a hand to Chad and the other to Adrie. They walked out to the sidewalk. Chad led the way, having done his research on Adrie's obsession with stingrays and the aquarium nearby. He had planned this day in his head so many times, waiting for Taylor to feel confident enough in their relationship to allow him to meet her daughter. She had flown to Albuquerque a few times and he had visited her twice when Adrie was at her dad's. Things were going well enough for them to even have a few talks about moving. Hartford had an opening for a coaching position. He hadn't applied yet, but he had gotten enough information to know that he was interested. It was time for him to branch out, finally leave the town he spent his whole life in. Fingers crossed that today would go well enough for him to bring it up to Taylor later.

Troy's biceps burned as he stretched his arms over his head. When they found the apartment, a second story walkup sounded perfect. Now he knew better. First floor is the way to go. It took a full day, with the help of friends, to unload the moving van yesterday. Today they were busy unpacking and arranging furniture.

"Maybe a couple more inches to the left?" He groaned dramatically. She giggled. "Just kidding!"

He collapsed onto the now properly positioned couch. Gabriella sat beside him and snuggled into his side. "I think we need an armchair by the window," she mused.

"Only if it gets delivered." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed.

"That sounds fair." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and got up. Troy had also wiggled the entertainment center into the correct spot across the room.

"The game comes on at 7," he reminded her, "You promised."

Gabriela nodded and fumbled with several identical black cords. She was in charge of hooking up the cable as he walked to the kitchen to cook their first real meal in their new apartment. Their shared apartment.

It had taken a while to work up the nerve to move in together. Gabriella had signed a year long lease just before the reunion, so it made sense to wait. But the miles between their apartments felt longer and longer with each passing month. Sharpay intruded into Troy's apartment one too many times. It also helped to make their rekindled relationship feel like progress rather than reliving the past. In all the time they had in high school and college, they had a few sleepovers, but sharing a space was new and exciting.

He had to force Gabriella to take a break from the tangle of cords and remotes to eat dinner. She was back at it, unplugging things and making a variety of unpleasant sound effects. The game was already in the second quarter and the only way Troy knew that was from the app on his phone.

"It's fine, really," he said, pulling her away from the electronics by her shoulders. "We can figure it out later."

She spun to face him. Her hair was in a wild knot on the top of her head and her cheeks were red with frustration. "I told you I'd be able to figure it out. Just give me a few more minutes," she said.

Troy moved his hands from her shoulders to either side of her face. "I don't care about it anymore. I just want to enjoy our first night in our apartment without worrying that you will throw the TV off of the balcony."

She laughed nervously. "Are you sure?" Gabriella's dark eyes were tired. "I know you wanted to-."

"Gabriella," he interrupted, "I just wanna be with you." He smiled genuinely. Her cheeks lifted under his palms in a matching grin.

AN: Thank you to any and all who hung out with this story. I've thoroughly enjoyed writing this and reviving my interest in my first fandom