Disclaimer: It's probably obvious, but I don't own any of the HSM characters or their related elements.

Written July 3, 2006

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Chapter 10 – The Kindness of Strangers

There was one problem with getting back to him. I happened to be twenty-five hundred miles away from Troy at the moment, and I wasn't getting back until early Sunday evening. I couldn't call either—that just seemed too impersonal, considering the magnitude of our fight. I moped about this in the morning to Taylor, but she just made a rude noise back.

"Deal with it," she said briskly. "Now you've got time to figure out how you're going to make up with him when you see him next. And what you really want when it comes to babies and last names."

She gulped down her coffee and grabbed her briefcase, ready to head to work on Saturday. It turned out what she'd told me a while back was wrong—investment bankers did really work most weekends, having something like 80-hour work weeks altogether.

"But don't worry," she said as she headed for the door. "I've called in reinforcements. Someone's coming by at noon to hang out if you still need to talk. So you'd better look presentable by then."

"What's wrong with this?" I gestured down at my sleep shorts and tank-top, feigning innocence of their hideousness.

She made a face. "Don't embarrass me, Gabi," she said, the door slamming behind her.

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It was only in the middle of my shower that I realized she hadn't told me who was dropping by. Grabbing a towel, I dried off and quickly changed into jeans and a smart-looking top. Taylor had said not to embarrass her. Maybe one of her banking friends was coming.

Then just as I was about to call Taylor to ask, a knock came at the front door. I dashed over to open it… and saw Ryan Evans step into the room. He wore a huge grin on his face. "Gabriella Montez," he cried out, sweeping me up into a gigantic hug. "You look wonderful!"

I'd forgotten that he lived in New York. At the reunion, Sharpay had said he was with a Broadway show here. His hair was much shorter and slightly spiked up, and he looked good in a pair of stylish faded jeans and a hip green t-shirt. A small, orange, cloth messenger-style bag with a buttoned flap hung off one shoulder.

"Ryan, oh my God!" I hugged him back tight. "How did you know—"

"Taylor, of course," he interrupted, letting me go. "She looked me up a couple of months ago, and we hang out every now and then. When she's not busy with work, right." He clapped his hands. "So, have you had lunch yet?"

I shook my head, and he opened the front door back up, grinning. "Well, come on then," he said. "I know this excellent little place, but we've got to hustle if we want to beat the crowd."

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He took me to a little bistro in the Nolita neighbourhood, where I had a divine club sandwich and the most amazing iced tea. Ryan said he had found the restaurant eight years ago when he first moved here on his own, trying to break into Broadway. And he told me all about the revival of the Producers that he was currently in, playing a swing understudy for four male roles, including one of the leads.

"The only role I do get to play consistently is FDR," he said. "So that's the one I tell people to look for when they come to see me. The guy in the wheelchair who gets kicked offstage by Hitler at the end of the first act."

He was warm and funny and a lot smarter than I remembered him. I figured that growing up and finding his career had wisened him up a bit. He talked about a conversation he had with Sharpay last week, and I asked him why he and Sharpay weren't talking when I had seen her at the reunion last.

"Well… it's kind of complicated," he said. "But basically, it had to do with how I'm gay, and Sharpay's then-husband was a terrified homophobe."

I did a double take. "You're gay?"

He gave me a look that said Come on. "Seriously, Gabi. I thought everyone knew by now."

"Sorry," I laughed, shrugging. "I just have the worst gaydar ever. It's been documented."

"Really?" He seemed taken aback.

"No, of course not."

He laughed and finished his sandwich, throwing his napkin onto the table. "If it was anyone else but you I wouldn't have asked. You just always seemed to know everything." He wiggled his fingers near his head, as if to point out his brain. "But okay then, genius. Enough about me. What's new in your life?"

I felt my smile drop. I had been enjoying listening to someone else's life for once. "Well, not much," I said, trying to avoid the obvious. "Just working at a magazine out in San Francisco. That's why I flew out here, to do an article."

Ryan's eyes twinkled. "Taylor said you moved out there because of Troy."

Oh, man. He knew how to get straight to the point. "Yeah, well…" I let out a soft laugh, but felt a shot of cold tension run down my spine. "Maybe that won't be for long."

"What?" He looked confused. Sighing, I wound up telling him the whole story. He shook his head sadly at the end.

"Oh, Sharpay," he said. "Yeah. Sorry about that. I think it's that twin thing. Always needing support from someone close by. Though she likes to pretend she doesn't need anyone, especially me." He fidgeted with his napkin. "But she called me a couple of days ago. I think things are going better. She and Zeke have been talking on the phone, and he'll be out there next weekend. She said Zeke's had a bit of a change of heart lately. He's being a little more open about everything."

"Well, that's good," I said, looking away.

"Yeah," he said, shrugging. "Well, if anyone can work something out with my sister, it's Zeke. He was always a nice guy. And he doesn't have an irrational hatred for me, so that's always a plus." Then he tapped the edge of the table, looking at me. "You, on the other hand…"

"My hatred for you is completely rational," I said.

He laughed. "Of course," he said. "But what I really meant is that you have a tougher nut to crack with this Troy thing. Running off to the opposite side of the country after an argument… not a good thing."

"I know," I said quietly. "But there's nothing I can do right now. I'm flying back tomorrow. It'll have to wait till then."

We sat there in silence for a bit, and then suddenly I heard Ryan let out a snort.

"What?"

"Nothing," he said, but I knew there was something more to it. "Come on," I prodded.

"Well…" He grinned sheepishly. "Don't hate me for saying this… but the fight you and Troy had at the start? I could kind of see that coming."

I shot him an incredulous look. "Ryan. Are you serious?"

"Well…" He laughed, turning a bit red. "You guys were always like that in high school. Sharpay and I always noticed. You're just both…. only children."

"Only children?"

"Oh man…." He looked away, smiling, and then lifted his palms up in the air. "Well… you both could be so difficult to work with sometimes, in the plays or whatever. We always chalked it up to you being the only children in the family. Neither of you ever had to fight with anyone else for what you wanted… so you got a bit self-entitled." He shrugged. "Both of you always got your way. And now… you're both trying to get your own way again."

I felt a twinge of recognition, but I folded my arms anyway. "Hey, I remember you being pretty damn difficult when we showed up at those Twinkle Towne auditions."

He wagged a finger at me. "Ah, but we sure did step aside once it was clear who had won." He laughed. "Well. All I'm saying is, maybe you both have to learn to back down once in a while. It's not all about winning."

He got up from the table. "And on that note," he said, "let me try to make it up to you. I don't want to be another gay cliché, but we're in Nolita, and there's a hundred funky little clothing shops around here. So come on. If you're going to be down, you might as well look great."

And I laughed, following him out of the restaurant out onto the street. Maybe I was far away from Troy… but right now, I felt glad to be in New York.

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Author's Note: I always wanted to throw something about Ryan into Once & Again, but just couldn't find the space. So finally, here he is. All right, this has been a quick update, but again you've all come through with 9 reviews for the last chapter. Can't wait to hear what you have to say about this one… and yes… we're going to get to their reunion soon enough…