Disclaimer: I don't own High School Musical. I only own Rachel Hamilton.
Full Summary: He was the school's leading man. She was the girl no one wanted. What happens when they are forced to work together?
Author's Note: First High School Musical fic. Wow…I fell in love with this movie! And I love Ryan Evans! Lucas Grabeel was awesome in the movie and I like his character.
- Pairings: Troy/Gabriella, Chad/Taylor, Ryan/Rachel, Zeke/Sharpay, Jason/Kelsi
- Chapter title'sa song by Clay Aiken. Love that man's voice.
- Winnie (Rose-Wisteria) beta'd this chapter and gave me a list of things to improve so this chapter's subject to changes. I figured you guys who've read this story so far deserve an update so I decided to upload this chapter anyway.
- I'm gonna try to update weekly again. Keyword here is: TRY.

Love Song For No One
(formerly Let The World Hear You)
By: that drama queen

Chapter 4: No More Sad Songs

Saturday came and Ryan was trying to figure out what to do about Rachel. He was definitely enamored by this girl and she was a beautiful, artistic soul, someone who was more on his wavelength than anyone else he had ever met. He needed an excuse to see her…but practicing for the duet could wait. He decided to surprise her with a visit. Without so much as a goodbye to Sharpay, Ryan ran out of the house and paid his duet partner a visit. He rang the doorbell with butterflies in his stomach.

After opening her front door, Rachel exclaimed, "Ryan! What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd ask you if you wanted to hang out and since I didn't ask for your number last night, I figured I just come over and ask you in person."

Flustered, Rachel had no idea what to say.

"Come have some ice cream with me. We'll go for a walk, talk, and get to know each other…no harm in that."

Rachel smiled and nodded in agreement. "Why don't you come in and I'll get a sweater real quick."

Ryan agreed and sat on the couch while Rachel got ready and they took off five minutes later.

After a heated debate in the car, the pair had decided on ice cream at the Dairy Queen at the Galleria's food court.

"So, Rachel Hamilton, I have to say, I am absolutely thrilled you've decided that I'm worth your time…wasn't it a couple of days ago you totally didn't want to work with me and now we're hanging out?"

As they sat down at a table in the middle of the food court, Rachel pointed her spoon at Ryan and replied, "Yeah, but I changed my mind."

"At least I know it wasn't me…was it?" Ryan gave her a fake pout.

Rachel shook her head. "I don't wanna get in to right now."

"Hmmm okay…so you're a singer huh? That is awesome! You're really talented…"

"Thanks. So are you. You're pretty much a legend! I mean, how many musicals did you star in?"

"Uhhhh, that's really insignificant." Ryan flashed Rachel a modest smile. "It was all Sharpay anyway...and our parents. They always seemed intent on us doing things together."

"Must be nice to share everything with someone…I bet you never get lonely."

"I can't imagine not having Sharpay. It would kill me inside…she can be smothering sometimes but I know she cares about me…"

"Yeah, you never quite get used to that empty feeling in your heart…"

Ryan nodded. He sensed the need to change the subject so he decided to make a suggestion. "How about we catch a movie, my treat, your pick?"

"Sweet!" Rachel exclaimed with a smile.

Sunday afternoon, Sharpay sitting in her room, typing out an essay when she heard Ryan's voice from his room. "I'm taking the car out again!"

Sharpay stormed angrily to Ryan's room and yelled, "WHAT? YOU HAD IT YESTERDAY! I know you're stating your independence but that doesn't give you the right to hog the car! You went for an ice cream, saw a movie and had dinner!"

Ryan didn't respond. He simply ran a comb through his hair, ignoring his twin sister's rant.

Sharpay took a deep breath before continuing. "Oh I know what this is about. It's about a girl, isn't it?"

"Maybe. So what if it is?" Ryan snapped at his twin.

"So you get a girlfriend, and now all of a sudden the only person who was always there for you doesn't matter anymore?"

"SHE'S JUST MY DUET PARTNER FOR MUSIC CLASS, OKAY?" Ryan yelled out, and then in a cold and controlled tone of voice, he added, "I have to go meet Rachel. We're rehearsing today."

Ryan stormed out of his room as Sharpay marched back to her own room.

Monday came and Ryan was greeted with a beautiful smile as he entered Miss Delgado's Vocal Music class. He was a bit rattled by his latest fight with Sharpay from the previous day but Rachel's smile managed to cheer him up a little.

"And she smiles," he stated playfully as he sat down next to Rachel.

Rachel shrugged. "Daddy said it suits me so I thought I'd give it a try."

"He's right, you know?" Ryan pointed out affectionately.

Rachel simply shrugged as the warning bell rang and the last of the stragglers walked into the class and Miss Delgado began to speak.

"He looks different," Gabriella stated as she, Taylor and Kelsi watched Ryan waiting in line for lunch at their usual table with Sharpay.

Taylor couldn't help but agree. "Is it even humanly possible to smile any more brightly?"

Kelsi simply shrugged, remembering her promise to Ryan.

"Yeah, there's a serious shortage of depressing songs coming from his bedroom," Sharpay commented sourly.

"Is everything okay, Sharpay?" Kelsi asked quietly.

Sharpay shrugged. "I can't figure out why I feel so distant from Ryan."

"You guys are growing up a…" Gabriella began.

"No…we're growing apart, Gabi. I don't even know Ryan anymore," Sharpay cut her friend off. "I hate it."

"Who's that he's sitting with?" Taylor asked.

Kelsi explained, "Rachel Hamilton. Duet partner for Delgado's class."

Sharpay took a good look at Rachel as Ryan sat down in front of the brunette across the cafeteria. You're gonna have to learn to know your place, Hamilton.

"I couldn't get Friday night off my mind," Ryan said after he sat down with Rachel.

"Saturday was nice too," Rachel quipped, stealing a fry from Ryan's lunch.

"Listen, I was wondering if you'd like to whip a little something up for the Holiday Showcase. Miss Delgado pulled me aside after class and asked me to organize the music part and she asked me if you and I would be interested in doing something together."

"Heh, uh…I don't know…maybe…I'll consider it."

"She says we're the best talent in the class. I'm meeting with a friend of mine, Gabriella, who's in charge of the drama section...do you think we could do it?"

"Maybe." Rachel kept a neutral tone but deep down, she was horrified at thought of performing on a stage again.

"Okay…" Ryan was a bit thrown off by Rachel's reluctance to perform, but he figured there was time to figure it out. "Hmmm, you're in Mr. Stone's Chem second period, right?" When Rachel nodded, he continued, "I am so gonna fail this week's quiz!"

Rachel shook her head and handed Ryan her notes. "These will help. I gotta go meet up with Janelle from geometry class – she promised to explain something to me."

Ryan watched as Rachel left, wondering what she was hiding. Determined to find out her secret, he made a mental note to try to get her to open up a little more.