Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last chapter. You're all wonderful.

This is the first chapter where we start incorporating things from Gabriella Taylor Ryan Manhattan. However, things are going to be changed a lot. I literally took three sentences from the original first chapter. At least half of the second chapter ended up on the proverbial cutting room floor. Other things were completely rewritten. I did a lot of development in earlier chapters this time around, so I did not need everything I wrote the first time. Also, a lot of the original stuff is garbage, and I can do better now, so I did.

Please know a lot of this chapter is happening simultaneously to events in the previous chapter. Also, remember New York is two hours ahead of Albuquerque.

Chapter 32: The Gabriella problem

Early evening Manhattan November 25, 2008

Ryan was actually happy to see Taylor at the train station. It's been a rough month. From the breakup because of the not a sex tape to his parents pending divorce. He was just happy to have another friend here in New York. His only non-Maria friend like person right now is Krista because she defended Sharpay. But Taylor was different.

"I'm so happy that you came." He hugged her as soon as she came up the escalator.

"I'm glad I'm here." Taylor pulled out of the hug and grabbed her suitcase again. "Although I would've understood if you decided to cancel this weekend and go to Albuquerque instead. I'm sure you want to be with Sharpay in light of everything going on with your family."

Taylor knew the truth about his parents' impending divorce, including the reason why. Maybe he should've asked for permission from Dad and Sharpay, but he needed to tell somebody. Taylor was that person. Besides, Sharpay told Troy, so he feels like he is entitled to have his own person. (Chad is pretty much an Evans at this point, so he doesn't count as an outside person.)

"I can't deal with other people's family drama this weekend. Between Troy telling everyone about Alex and Chad's dad coming with the new girlfriend that Chad knows nothing about yet, it will be too much."

"Chad still doesn't know?" Taylor asked, surprised.

"I asked him a few minutes ago, and Chad ended the call abruptly. I'm going to take that as a no. Charles doesn't actually call Chad that often or at all. He is mostly a neglectful parent, not like Darby. Besides, I think I need a little more time before seeing Sharpay."

He's not even sure he can look at Sharpay without breaking into tears, and he's not sure if she needs that right now. After their big text message conversation a couple of weeks ago, he cried for an hour.

"I just feel guilty for not seeing what was happening. How could I miss what the monster was doing to her?" He has been asking himself that question for weeks.

"As I told you multiple times, that wasn't your fault Ryan." Taylor tried to reassure him.

"You only saw what Sharpay and Darby wanted you to see. Darby wanted to control everything, and Sharpay wanted to protect you. It's what big sisters do. Jason told you about my freak out when I found out he was skipping a bunch of grades." Ryan nodded his head as they made their way out of Penn station.

"So I made a big deal about not wanting him to be in high school at the same time as me because I didn't want him to start high school at 11. I was scared they would eat him alive, so I threw a tantrum to keep him in junior high for another year to give him more time to grow up." Taylor explained.

"But, you threw a tantrum instead of explaining that." Ryan pointed out.

"My therapist Makayla pointed that out to me. Apparently, I do that sort of thing a lot."

"I wasn't gonna say anything," He smirked at her as they finally made it outside of the building.

"So, are we taking a cab, or are we walking?" Taylor asked.

"Car service. Dad is feeling extra guilty about the divorce. He even reinstated mine and Sharpay's Black Friday shopping privileges." He also paid for Gabriella's ticket as part of the scheme to get her here.

"I'm glad I didn't cost you those in the long run. I'm probably going to be working for your dad every summer for the rest of my college career to pay off everything I wrecked during the breakup." Taylor remarked as the car pulled up.

"Probably. However, you will get to benefit from the black card this Friday. You deserve a little retail therapy." Ryan opened the door to allow Taylor to slide inside. The driver took care of their bags.

"No, you deserve some retail therapy. I just had to deal with finding out my boyfriend was never actually into me and was using me as his beard. You had to deal with…" Taylor couldn't even finish the sentence.

"Also being a beard, but I lost an important friend in the process. I really don't want to talk about Darby this weekend." He's just so tired of it all.

"I will respect your request on that at least until Friday. But how are you holding up?" Taylor asked.

"I'm okay, mostly." He doesn't feel like bursting into tears, so that's an improvement. "I'm just glad you're here." He said, hugging her again. Hugging Taylor was one of the few times he's felt at peace these last few weeks.

Ryan intended to tell Taylor about the Gabriella intervention on the ride to Beijing Gardens Midtown. Instead, he ended up telling Taylor about his last interaction with Kelsi. Sadly, Kelsi is an easier subject to talk about than Darby.

"She really had the audacity to ask you for a ride to the airport? She starts shacking up with her roommate without telling you, most likely before the breakup. She also showed your entire floor the almost-sex tape. Let's not even talk about the slut-shaming involved."

"Copious amounts of slut-shaming, which just pissed Kristin off." She works as an exotic dancer because it pays the bills. "Although Sharpay has turned it around and has gone the sex-positive route."

"In general, she should. I am still a little upset that it was made before the breakup, but I know that Chad tucked her into bed and did nothing else. He even closed his eyes when he put a T-shirt on her. It was adorable." Ryan was happy that Taylor has got to the acceptance part of the breakup.

"I'm glad Chad respects Sharpay as a person. However, I'm still not watching that video." Sharpay got the guy, and Chad is slipping into a more Familial role, but old crushes die hard.

"Anyway, my point is she did all of that crap, and she expects a favor from you? What is wrong with her? Like seriously, what is wrong? You deserve better." Taylor squeezed his hand at that point.

"I don't even think she gets that we're not friends anymore. You don't say the things that she did about my sister and expect us to stay friends, especially without even apologizing." Ryan explained.

"I think I said worse about Sharpay during my breakup with Chad. We are still friends, so I can understand her confusion."

"One, your anger was justified. Two, you actually apologized. Kelsi has neither of those things. I can't be with her, but I can't even be friends with her. Friends don't do stuff like that to you."

"Which is good since she's already with someone else," Taylor remarked.

"It makes sense that I was her beard. The sex was awful. I usually had to think about somebody else." Ryan confessed.

Ryan will never tell her that he fantasized about her and Chad sometimes together to get off. You don't tell your friends that you had sexual fantasies about them. Especially when one of those friends is now dating your sister. Also, since Chad is moving into the family category and is no longer an appropriate subject to fantasize about, Taylor has been popping up more. Okay, along with Zack, because Ryan finally let Chad give the guy his number after their 20-minute chat on Chad's phone. This may be why he's never going to be able to convince his father that there's not something going on between him and Chad. He received a bunch of books (audio and hardcopy) about polyandry from Barnes and Noble.

"As a fellow beard, did you ever considered it might've been complete orientation incompatibility?"

"When it comes to women, I'm more like Chad in that regard, but there are a few women I'm still sexually attracted to," Ryan explained.

"But now you don't think Kelsi was one of them?" Taylor asked.

"If I tried to explain that, it's going to send this conversation into Darby territory. I don't have the energy right now. I am kind of burnt on relationships. So I'm not going to do more than text message flirt with Zack." He needed time to recover, and Zack was safe right now.

"You finally broke down and gave him your number?" Taylor asked.

"It would be rude to just keep sending each other slightly inappropriate messages on Chad's phone." Ryan joked.

He didn't tell Taylor that his father thinks he's in a poly relationship with Chad because that would mean explaining Lava Springs. He's thinking about getting Chad to explain it to her when they're together at Christmas. They're probably going to need a bunch of alcohol for that conversation.

"I totally get that, and I don't think I am ready for a full relationship again either. I'll just keep sending somewhat inappropriate messages to you. We are in an open flirting relationship." Taylor joked.

"I look forward to it," Ryan said just as their car pulled up to the hotel. Unfortunately, that was the same time Gabriella's car arrived. Shit! She wasn't supposed to get there for another hour.

"What is she doing here?" Gabriella and Taylor yelled at each other simultaneously.

"Ryan invited me," Taylor responded icily as she grabbed Ryan's hand.

"He sent me a plane ticket. So I guess we know who he likes more." That's when the screaming really started.

That made Ryan wonder if he should've told Maria no when she asked for his help in getting Gabriella back home to get the medical care she needed. But even he was worried about the drinking. Gabriella needed help. As the shouting and cursing continued as they were shown to their rooms, Ryan regretted not explaining the whole situation to Taylor in the car.

xxx

Taylor was absolutely furious that Gabriella was there because she never wants to see her again after what she did. How could Ryan invite her here? After calling Gabriella several variations of the word whore, she dragged Ryan to his suite to talk privately.

"What the fuck were you thinking by bringing her here? There's no way I am going to spend the next four days with that woman." Taylor practically yelled at Ryan.

"You know I am friends with Maria. She asked me to help her get Gabriella to New York for Thanksgiving. I agreed to help." She should've known Maria was involved. She was actually Ryan's friend.

"I know Maria gave you a safe haven during the Kelsi storm." Taylor sighed. "But, you don't owe her this."

"Yes, I do. You know that Gabriella has not been okay for the last few months. Her behavior has been very erratic." That was an understatement.

"She threw a lamp at Troy." And uploaded your sister's almost sex tape to YouTube, but I'm not allowed to tell you that.

"Okay, extremely erratic. In addition to slowly cutting people like us out of her life, she's been drinking excessively and not taking the medication she's supposed to be on. Marie is worried and wants help to confront Gabriella on this." Taylor knew this was the case from what she's heard from Troy.

"And did Maria tell you what that medication was?"

"No, but I have some suspicions. You knew that Gabriella's aunt died about a year before she moved to Albuquerque?"

"Yes, but she never talked about it."

"Probably because the cause of death was suicide. She had a history of mental illness before then. What exactly, I don't know because Maria doesn't like to talk about it either." Ryan explained.

"Shit!" It really shouldn't surprise her. She and Troy were considering something similar.

"That sort of stuff runs in families and usually manifests is around this time. Maria wanted me to get Gabriella here to New York for an intervention." Ryan explained. He's too pure for this world. Of course, Sharpay got all the ruthless genes.

"You did your job as Maria's friend and got her here. Good for you. We could have the driver take her to Maria's and wash our hands of her. She's not my problem anymore." A voice in the back of Taylor's mind called her a liar. She wouldn't keep asking Troy if he was in contact with Maria about Gabby's concerning behavior if that was really true.

"She's our friend. We can't just let her go through this by herself." Ryan argued.

"Not anymore. That sweet girl we went to high school with is dead. When Gabriella got to college, she became this completely different person. Too much alcohol and Mercedes." And maybe her own body chemistry, but Taylor doesn't want to think about that.

"I know she's been a shitty friend, but maybe there's a reason for that. She needs help right now. I know you're hurt because she wasn't there to help you with the breakup. Maybe this intervention can also be about you and her reconciling or at least talking things out and getting closure." Ryan pleaded with her.

"I don't need closure. I've already said everything I wanted to say to Gabriella back there." Actually, Taylor wanted to confront her about the almost-sex tape but couldn't in front of Ryan.

"I'm sure calling her a bitch was a great way to start the healing process," Ryan said sarcastically as he sat down on the king-sized bed.

"Probably not, but it made me feel better. Ryan, I rather spend the entire holiday watching your sister fondling my ex-boyfriend than be with Gabriella. At least I can tolerate your sister. She's not evil and protects my baby brother. " Taylor said as she sat next to Ryan.

"I don't think Gabriella is evil either, just not okay right now. It's worse when she's under the influence of Mercedes." She's heard the same thing from Troy.

"You can't blame Mercedes for Gabriella deciding to throw a lamp at Troy. She tried to hit him." Ryan tried to interrupt her, but she wouldn't let him. "Don't bring up what I almost did to Jason because I regretted it, but I don't think she does. I don't think she has any regrets for what she did to Troy."

"Is there something else that she did that Troy didn't tell me? Because I know about the trenchcoat incident." Ryan asked as he grabbed her hand. She feels a little tingle run down her spine.

As much as Taylor wanted to tell Ryan about the almost-sex tape truth, she couldn't do that. Troy made Taylor promise not to tell Ryan. Even though Troy doesn't love Gabriella anymore, he still doesn't want her dead or severely maimed. Ryan would definitely be out for blood if he knew.

Except maybe he wouldn't be because of Maria. Maria wasn't just Ryan's friend; she has become a substitute mom. If anybody needs that right now, it's Ryan. Darby cheating on his father was bad enough. The fact that he found out that Darby physically abused Sharpay for a good portion of their childhood and Ryan was unaware it made things worse. Ryan needed Maria, so if she asked him for help, then he's going to help. Again, he's too pure for this world.

"I wish you would've told me about this ahead of time," Taylor sighed.

"I know, and I'm sorry about that. Sharpay even told me too. Honestly, I wasn't even 100% sure Gabby wasn't going to change her mind and go to Colorado with Mercedes until I actually saw her at the hotel. You have no idea what we had to do to get her here." Ryan put his head down on the bed.

"It can't be worse than you telling your dad that Chad and Sharpay are dating so you could get them in a dorm room with air-conditioning."

"It was so I could get Chad and Sharpay in the same building. Thank you very much. Since Malick, a.k.a. my sister's rapist, is also in that building, I don't regret my decision." Taylor looked at him, not sure how to react to that.

"Okay, I regret that you got hurt but keeping Sharpay safe is my priority. Unfortunately, I am apparently not very good at it." Taylor lay down next to Ryan on the bed.

"You are good at it," Ryan telling Chad's mom the truth got Darby to stop, but Taylor knows better than to mention that right now. "I get it. I probably would've done the same thing to protect Jason. I'm not going to be mad at you for being a protective sibling." Taylor placed an arm around Ryan.

"Gabriella came because she thinks that I have feelings for her and is apparently here for revenge sex." Taylor had no choice but to laugh at that. That was so ridiculous.

"How did she get that idea? Gabriella always thought that you were really, really gay. She always assumed Kelsi was just your beard. Also, revenge against who?"

"It's amazing how someone could be so right, yet so wrong. Gabriella wants vengeance against Chad and Sharpay because she thinks Troy broke up with her to be in a poly relationship with Chadpay. Troy refuses to tell me exactly how she got that idea, but I think it's Mercedes related."

Because then he will have to explain about having a video of your sister topless on his computer, and you don't want to have that conversation. Taylor thought to herself.

"You're better off not knowing," Taylor tells Ryan instead.

"Troy said the same thing. Allegedly, Gabby is hoping to make Troy jealous by sleeping with me, and he'll come back to her. Or at least that's what Madison thinks." Ryan explained.

"Because Gabby is unaware that Troy is now engaged to Aunt Vanessa's daughter and has a 22-month-old with her." Taylor sighed again.

"Exactly. If you don't want to help me do this for Gabriella, then do it for Troy. You know he is worried about Gabriella, but he has way too much on his plate with Alex. He feels guilty. Do you know that Gabby's drinking has gotten even worse since the breakup?"

"Which explains why Gabriella showed up at his room in a trenchcoat." Taylor shook her head.

"Per Madison, she was drunk. And then drank more on the ride home."

"I think Troy should just get a restraining order and be done with it."

"Maria actually said something similar."

"Because Maria is probably the one with common sense in this operation." Taylor sighed.

"Well, my dad is helping. He is paying for the specialist." Okay, Taylor was sure she's missing something, but she had a feeling someone else had the extra details. She would text Chad later. But for now, she feels like she needs to go along with this.

"Okay, I'll do this for you and for Troy and even for Maria because she makes excellent cookies," Taylor told him reluctantly.

"The best cookies."

"But I am not here for Gabriella. None of this is for her." Liar.

"Thank you." Ryan reached over and grabbed her hand again, which also made her feel fuzzy inside. "Everything won't just be about Gabriella. I do have some fun stuff planned for us. During Gabriella's confrontation with her mom tomorrow morning, you and I will have quality spa time. Also, Friday is just going to be us."

"I'm holding you to that, Evans. Although you know they only gave us two keys." And Ryan had the bellhop show Gabriella to the other room so they could talk.

"Originally, I thought that maybe you and Gabriella could share a room to work through your issues. So I didn't change the original reservation for two rooms for me and Sharpay that I made way back in June."

"Not happening." Taylor could go along with whatever was actually being planned by Maria and Vince Evans. Because she knew that at least Maria knew the truth per Troy. But there was no way in hell she was sleeping in a room with Gabriella.

"Troy made me realize that." Troy was starting to go to number two on her friend list. His role in the Chadpay debacle notwithstanding.

"However, trying to get a hotel room four days before Thanksgiving did not go well. It's why I made the original reservations almost as soon as I knew I was going to Julliard."

"Did you invoke Kim's name?" Taylor asked. "I know her family owns this hotel."

"I tried to, but I didn't know that she already changed her last name to Bolton. They don't actually believe I'm a personal friend. Kim is too freaked out right now about dealing with Troy's family Thursday for me to call and ask for a personal favor. So how would you feel about sharing a room with me?" Ryan asked almost earnestly.

"It looks like I have no choice. I can't send you to Gabby because then she'll really think that you brought her here to seduce her." Taylor remarked.

"I know. It is the only reason why I wish I was still with Kelsi. Gabriella will not try to fuck me if I have a girlfriend."

"Even though she's now fucking Natasha. Also, have you forgotten Penelope?" Taylor asked.

"Never, because that's sort of how Sharpay ended up with your ex."

"You can always do what my idiot ex-boyfriend did and have a fake significant other. You can tell her that you're more than just text flirting with Zack. Again, she always thought you were really gay. Reinforce that." Taylor suggested.

"Fake significant others are not a deterrent when they're not in the same state." Ryan sighed.

"Or real ones, for that matter. Although fake in-person ones do work even if they eventually become real. How would you feel about helping me get a little vengeance?" Because she deserved vengeance.

"Is this vengeance going to go like my sister getting vengeance on Penelope? Because you do remember that went plasma TV being destroyed by a baseball bat badly." Ryan remarked.

"That won't happen here because we are already single," Taylor remarked.

"You have a point. Let's just let Gabriella assume whatever she wants about us sharing a room. Although when she's not around, I will go asked for a rollaway bed or something."

"I don't think four-star hotels have rollaway beds," Taylor remarked.

"Four-star hotels have everything."

XXXX

Hot Gabriella: I don't think this plan is going to work. Taylor's here.

Mercedes: The needy friend who got mad at you for making other friends?

Hot Gabriella: The ex-friend who knows I was responsible for uploading a sex tape of Ryan's sister.

Mercedes: That may not be a problem. I hate my siblings except for the stepbrother. He thinks you're cute, by the way. He Can't wait to meet you.

Hot Gabriella: Ryan broke up with his last girlfriend because she showed the tape to his entire building. Kelsi is really upset about that.

Mercedes: Okay, definitely don't tell him you are responsible for that tape.

Hot Gabriella: Not planning to. But Taylor might.

Mercedes: Are you sure you don't want to come to Colorado? I can send you a ticket.

Hot Gabriella: I'm here. I'm not leaving without pictures to make Troy jealous.

Mercedes: You could find someone to make Troy jealous here in Colorado. There are lots of hot boys and girls here.

Hot Gabriella: I'm not really into girls.

Mercedes: Have you tried? Rebound flings can be fun.

Hot Gabriella: I don't want a rebound fling; I want Ryan. Troy left me for Chad and Sharpay. So I'm going to take Ryan away from Chad and Sharpay.

Mercedes: So this is revenge?

Hot Gabriella: Not entirely. I liked Madison's suggestion that maybe somebody else cared about me and wants to be with me.

Mercedes: If it isn't just for revenge, then I'll help.

Hot Gabriella: It isn't.

Mercedes: You should try the subtle approach.

Hot Gabriella: How do I do subtle?

Mercedes: Flirt with him a little. Laugh at his jokes. Dance with him.

Hot Gabriella: I'll try. I'll text you later.

Xxx

Meanwhile, in New Mexico

Chad sat in the Lexus with a Sharpay who was still physically shaking in anger. After Troy accidentally let it slip that Gabriella was responsible for the almost-sex tape incident, Chad pulled Sharpay out of there before things got really bad. Sharpay had not said a word since her initial outburst 10 minutes ago. Her quietness scared him. The more she withdrawal from the situation, the more dangerous things could be. Finely her composure fell apart, and her tears began to fall. Quickly he pulled her body against his and stroked her hair.

"It's okay, baby," Chad whispered.

"Why did she do that?" Sharpay asked, still crying.

"I don't know," Chad said as she continued to stroke her hair. "Only Gabriella can answer that question."

"Well, I never want to see her again. So I guess I'll never know the answer."

"I'm okay with that. We will still get Maria cookies through Ryan." Chad joked.

"Cookies won't make this better. I know Gabriella hates me. I know as far she is concerned, I tried to take her boyfriend several times."

"She probably didn't even realize you weren't trying that hard. Or that Troy was very in love with someone else."

"Very in love with someone else. However, I never did anything like this to her. I never tried to humiliate her in front of the entire world. How could she do that to us?" She looked so heartbroken at this moment.

"I don't know, Shar." He said as he gently kissed her forehead.

"How long did you know about this?" Sharpay asked.

"A while. Once we realized that Troy's computer was the only place someone could have stolen the file from without hacking, Gabriella became the most likely suspect. Although I didn't know for sure until after the breakup." When Troy confessed everything, "Troy didn't want you to know because he was worried about you getting arrested on murder charges."

"I'm not actually going to try to kill her." Chad looks at her, concerned.

"For Maria's sake, for taking care of Ryan. So we're just going to let Gabriella get away with what she did to us?" Sharpay asked, bitter and angry.

"I don't consider Troy breaking up with Gabriella as getting away with it."

"She threw a lamp at him." Sharpay shot back.

"I also told your father that Gabriella was responsible for the tape ending up on YouTube." Okay, Kim told your father what happened by accident because he has no concept of privacy, and I confirmed it.

"He and Maria are planning an intervention starting tomorrow. I decided to let him handle this. That's why Ryan had to convince Gabriella to come to New York."

"Okay, that makes sense. I still want to beat the hell out of Gabriella." As she said the words, Chad pulled her in for one of his earth-shattering kisses. She completely forgot her Gabriella blood lust as Chad's mouth melted with hers.

At least until Sharpay's phone chirped and Chad had to look.

"Taylor just called your brother an idiot," Chad said after checking the message and passing the phone over to Shar.

"Does Taylor know that Ryan invited Gabriella to New York just so my dad could punish her for the almost-sex tape?" Sharpay asked.

"Ryan doesn't even know that Gabriella was responsible. Maria called in a favor, and he agreed." Chad explained.

"What?"

"Look, we might refer to Ryan as the good twin, but he still has your homicidal tendencies. Ryan is also one hell of an overprotective brother. It was safer this way."

"Keeping secrets in this friend group never goes well," Sharpay said as she grabbed the phone to text Taylor back.

XXXX

Taylor: Your brother is an idiot.

Boyfriend stealer: I'm not disagreeing. Your brother just told Troy's mom about Alex, and it blew up spectacularly. So I feel like we're even.

Taylor: Your brother invited the FMG to stay with us.

Boyfriend stealer: I would say kill the bitch because she posted the almost-sex tape, but that would make Maria sad. We like her.

Taylor: It's the cookies.

Boyfriend stealer: However, Chad just told me to tell you that Ryan doesn't know that he's helping my dad and Maria punish Gabby for the sex tape. That's what this intervention is actually about. Apparently, my dad is supposed to ambush Gabriella at a spa with Maria tomorrow.

Boyfriend stealer: Or he was before a meeting got rescheduled for tomorrow. So I think Vince is coming up later now. But in ambush is happening.

Taylor: I already know.

Taylor: About Gabriella posting the almost-sex tape. I'm actually the one who figured it out. Gabriella sent the unedited video to me first from an account that she was still logged into on Troy's computer. I actually did want to tell you, but Troy didn't want you to accidentally get picked up on homicide charges.

Taylor: Although I didn't know about the intervention. I'm a little less annoyed with your brother.

Boyfriend stealer: Yet, Troy is the idiot that told me. It slipped out during the fight with his mom. She gave me Darby flashbacks.

Boyfriend stealer: Chad won't let me beat Gabby up.

Taylor: Stupid boyfriend. I'm sure Carolyn could help you beat the assault charges.

Boyfriend stealer: Maybe we can send the FMG a copy of Kim's new driver's license instead? Psychological torture might be best in the situation.

Taylor: I'm all for psychological torture. Although I think the engagement announcement would be better.

Boyfriend stealer: You're right, we need an announcement with Alex in the picture. Father and son look so cute together.

Taylor: You are too evil. Although I already have some revenge planned. Did Chad tell you that to get Gabriella here, Troy's friend Madison had to convince her that Ryan was romantically interested in Gabriella? She came to dinner in 'come fuck me heels' and a top that barely complies with the restaurant dress code.

Boyfriend stealer: Seriously?

Taylor: Yes. She came to get revenge on you and Chad for stealing her boyfriend. Apparently, she was convinced you were both fucking Troy because of the almost-sex tape on his computer.

Boyfriend stealer: Idiot. My brother has taste. Also, I feel like he's given up on the female gender.

Taylor: Kelsi really did fuck him up. That's obvious.

Taylor: After watching Gabriella try to grab your brother's ass for a third time during dinner, I decided I'm taking a play out of your playbook. I'm going to make her think that I'm with Ryan.

Boyfriend stealer: You do remember how badly that went?

Taylor: At least we're both single.

Boyfriend stealer: I'll give you that. Just send me pictures.

xxxxxx

"You know it's rude to text during dinner," Ryan said as he obviously started reading the messages on the phone.

"Not when you hate at least one of the other guests," Taylor mumbled under breath.

"Do I want to know why you're texting my sister?" Ryan asked Taylor in shock.

"Complaining about our idiot brothers." Taylor scrolled up just to show Ryan the first message from Sharpay. Although she wouldn't let him read the rest because that is not a good way to tell him about Gabriella's treachery.

"I'm glad we decided not to go to New Mexico."

"You're sending text messages to the girl that took your boyfriend?" Gabriella asked Taylor in pure surprise with a touch of maliciousness.

"No, I'm sending text messages to the woman who takes care of my baby brother. Chad and I broke up independently of Sharpay. We are in different states, and we want different things out of life. But we are trying to maintain a friendship." Ryan started laughing when Taylor said this.

"Yes, Ryan, I know what I call your sister on my cell phone. It's a joke. On her phone, she refers to me as Chad's ex."

"So you just let him go? You didn't even put up a fight?" Gabriella asked, shocked.

"Nobody told you about the plasma tv, did they?" She heard Ryan muttered under his breath.

"I stopped fighting after I realized that Chad wasn't what I needed." Okay, she really stopped fighting when she realized Chad was in love with Sharpay. However, she's trying to get Gabriella to let go of Troy, so that truth isn't going to quite work right now.

"You already destroyed half of Sharpay's closet by that point," Ryan said, trying to grab her cell phone again, but Taylor wouldn't give it to him.

"Your father can afford to replace them." Although Taylor will be working that debt off the summer. She's not telling Gabriella that. "My point is once I realized that we couldn't really work, I let go. I didn't do something desperate like show up to his dorm room in a trench coat smelling of cheap booze."

"You do drink a lot," Ryan added. This is why they had dinner dry, even though they could probably get alcohol quickly.

"How did you find out about that?" Gabriella asked.

"Troy told me because we are actually still friends. Troy isn't going to go back to somebody who threw a lamp at him and tried to hit him. More importantly, I won't let him." She felt Ryan tense up at that moment. Instinctively she grabbed his hand. She didn't mean to remind him of Darby's abuse of his sister; it just came out.

"There is this really good book out called, He's Just Not That into You. I think you should read it. They're even making it into a movie." Taylor joked because she needed to get out of the danger zone.

"She's very familiar with the book. She gave it to Sharpay as her Christmas/birthday present last year." Ryan said with a laugh. She was so happy she made him laugh. Good, no more bad Darby thoughts.

"Maybe Sharpay can re-gift. She certainly doesn't need the book anymore since she has a boyfriend that actually loves her." Taylor said, very snidely.

"She took yours."

"You can't take something away that you never had. You'll understand that soon enough." As soon as they can get Gabriella the engagement announcement.

"Troy and I are just on a break. Troy loves me," Gabriella argued.

"No, he doesn't. Maybe once upon a time, he did," not likely, but Gabriella doesn't know the complete Kim truth yet. "But not anymore. That love went away when you ignored him and then betrayed his trust. And that was before you threw a lamp at him. Did you know that he found someone logged on to his computer on as Cleveland girl 2005?"

That last part was whispered so low enough that only Gabriella could hear her. Of course, by leaning over, Taylor realized that Gabriella's drink was spiked. She is not even surprised. No wonder Maria was worried.

"I still love him," Gabriella whispered back.

"I'm going to repeat to use some advice that I didn't want to hear. Gabriella, you don't know Troy enough to really love him. You don't know anything about Troy beyond what he wanted you to see. You don't know about his past." This part, she said loud enough for Ryan to hear.

"Troy and I talked about everything." Taylor couldn't help but laugh. Gabriella doesn't even know Troy wasn't a virgin. At least Chad was honest when he said he never engaged in sexual activities with someone female. She didn't realize he was using exact words at the time, but it was not a lie.

"No, you didn't. I thought I knew everything about Chad, and I did not until the breakup. But it's okay because I'm moving on to something better. You should too." And she hopes that the place is an alcohol treatment center because she can smell the alcohol.

"Who have you moved on to?" That's when Taylor tugged Ryan's hand slightly to show Gabriella their joined hands. She never did let go.

"The other reason why I'm making an effort with Sharpay is I'm dating her brother now. Even though he forgot to tell me that he invited you here. You're an idiot." But she totally expects Ryan to go along with this.

"I thought it would be good for you two to talk things out. I don't like you two fighting." She smiled at Ryan because he's definitely bringing his skills to this.

"You're still an idiot, and you're not sleeping in the same bed with me tonight." Ryan actually pouted at her. "Which is why I asked the concierge desk for an air mattress." They tried for a rollaway bed earlier, and that was not an option. So they asked the concierge to get an air mattress.

"I should've talked to you first. I'm sorry."

"Yes, you should've. But I forgive you because you're my idiot." To sell it, Taylor decided to bend over and kiss Ryan. She was expecting a stage kiss. Maybe it started out just a peck on the lips, but that quickly went further. There was definitely more tongue than what Taylor expected.

Someday when there is a lot of alcohol involved, Taylor will ask Sharpay what she felt the first time she kissed Chad in front of Penelope to get her revenge for the boyfriend stealing. Because if Sharpay felt a fraction of what Taylor felt now, then she understands why things fell apart.

Shit! This was not the best idea she ever had.

To be continued…