A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews! I appreciate them! You guys rock! By the way, it's my birthday today! Yes, I'm turning thirteen! I'm so happy! But I'm not so happy when I move on Friday. Yeah, I'm moving from Charlotte, North Carolina to New Jersey. So if any of you Jersey guys (or girls) have any tips for me, I'm open for advice. And since we're just moving, I won't have any internet access for a while. By "a while", I mean a couple of months. So I'm going to have to finish this story before Friday. Don't worry, I am going to finish this, only one or two more chapters left. I know, cry, cry, it's almost over! But I'm planning on writing a sequel and an alternate ending, but I won't be posting it until we get internet access.

puppylove223223 - I'm a Troyella person too! But I'm also a Ryella!

CassieLovesRyne - You're close! But there's something missing.

laguanabeachfreak442 - Gabriella was crying because Troy gave her the necklace and bracelet and said a couple of romantic words. Gabriella is very emotional!

lol925 - You're close too!

Anyway, here's chapter 16. Hope you guys like it!

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Something Has Changed

Chapter 16: Is It Worth It?

"Yes Ryan, so what have you decided?"

"Well, I think… that I'll take your offer Mr. Griffith."

"You mean, you're going?"

"Well, it is my dream since kindergarten, so yeah. I'm going."

"Excellent. Good thing you called now because I don't really have time tomorrow. So. I'll book you a flight for next week. Saturday sound good?"

"Yeah, that sounds good."

"All right. Well, I'll see you in NY next week. I'll just fax you the information when I get there tomorrow. Okay? All right. Buh-bye."

"Bye." With that, Ryan hung up his phone. "Ryan Evans what have you gotten yourself into?" Ryan asked himself. A few more minutes of walking and he arrived home. A bouncing Sharpay greeted him.

"So, how'd it go?" Sharpay asked.

"How did what go?"

"Your confession to Gabriella!"

"Oh… that… um… I didn't tell her."

"What! Why not? I drove your car home. The first car that you ever drove. And I even took extra care of it! No scratches!" Sharpay shouted. "Just dents." She said in more of a whisper.

"WHAT?" Ryan shouted.

"I'm kidding. It's perfect. See for yourself. But not now. Why didn't you tell her?"

"I just really don't want to talk about it."

Sharpay sighed. "Fine." Then she stomped to her room. But before she could slam the door, Ryan called after her.

"Hey Shar?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to New York!" Ryan shouted. That got Sharpay's attention. She rushed downstairs to Ryan.

"Could you say that again? I was upstairs and I might've heard wrong." Sharpay said. Then she fingered her ears.

"I said I'm going to New York." Ryan said. When Sharpay heard that, she screamed her famous scream and then fanned herself with her hands.

"Are you freakin' serious?"

"As serious as I'll ever be. I already called Mr. Griffith. I'm leaving next Saturday." Ryan explained.

"But what about us? What about your friends? What about Gabriella?"

Ryan was silent for a while. "You're just gonna have to go on with your lives without me."

A couple of hours later, Ryan told his parents and his brother the news. Summer just screamed. Apparently, Sharpay inherited her scream from her mom.

"Are you sure that's what you want to do son? I mean, you won't see us for three whole years."

"I'm positive."

"Is it because your dad and I aren't there enough for you? Because we can change you know!" Summer shouted at Ryan.

"No mom. I really want to do this."

"Okay. Well, since you're gonna be gone for three whole years, can I have your room? I could use the space." Terrell said.

"No, you can't have my room. Shar, make sure he doesn't invade my room while I'm gone."

"But you're not gonna be back for three years!" Terrell said.

"But I'm coming back!"

"But by then, you'll be in college!"

"So, that doesn't mean anything, I'll still be coming back." Ryan said. He's right, I'm gonna be in college by then. That means, when I leave, I might never see Gabriella. He thought.

That same night, Sharpay sat Ryan down in the loft and started talking to him.

"So what made you finally decide that you want to go to New York?"

"I just really don't want to talk about it."

"Is it because of Gabriella? I thought you were trying to impress her. You just keep trying and don't give up."

"Okay, you know what, I've had it with trying. I've been trying for so long and what do I get? I just get pissed off because nothing happens when I try. She always chooses Troy. I just don't get it! I have tried everything I could think off. I even took your advice. Nothing seems to work! So I've had it. If I can't impress Gabriella, then I'm better off with following my dream."

Sharpay just stared at her brother with awe. Ryan was on the verge of crying.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted at you like that. It's just that…" Ryan apologized.

"…I've been trying so hard and I just can't make her look my way. So, I'm sorry if I yelled at you."

"It's okay. Let it all out." Sharpay said. She went over to Ryan and patted his back. But Ryan couldn't hold it anymore. He cried.

The following Sunday, Mr. Griffith faxed Ryan the information needed. As in, when his tickets are gonna come, what time his flight is, his penthouse, his new teacher, where in Broadway they're gonna meet, etc. Ryan just looked at it blankly for a while but then folded it and put it in a special folder. Then Sharpay went in his room.

"So… are you gonna tell the guys?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow. Maybe at lunch. I just hope that they take it well."

"What do you think Gabriella will say?"

"I have no idea."

The next day, Monday, Ryan got up at his usual time took a shower, got dressed, ate, brushed his teeth, grabbed his book bag and started walking. He didn't feel like taking the car to school, so Sharpay just took the limo.

When he got to school, the guys still bugged him about what the guy (Mr. Griffith) told him last week.

"You're still not giving up on that?" Ryan asked.

"Not until we find out." Chad replied.

"Yeah, for all we know, it might be a deep, dark secret that you've been hiding from us all along." Zeke said.

"It might be." Ryan said. He winked at the gang.

Everything just went by so quickly for Ryan. Before he knew it, it was time for lunch. He sat at their regular table on the balcony. He didn't even bother trying to impress Gabriella that day. What's the point if I'm going to leave on Saturday anyway? Ryan thought.

A few minutes later, the whole gang sat down around him.

"Guys, I have something to say." Ryan announced. The whole table silenced. "I know all of you want to know what Mr. Griffith, the guy who came last week, and I talked about." Ryan said, and then a series of "yeahs" and "uh-huhs" echoed around the table.

"Well, I'm going to tell you." Ryan said. That made everybody drop their food and pay attention. Even Chad.

"You know how being in Broadway was my dream since kindergarten. Well, Mr. Griffith offered me a spot in a musical in Broadway."

"That's great!" Kelsi shouted.

"Yeah I know. But that means I'll be living there for three years and I won't be able to see you guys if I choose to go."

"Three years? Why does it have to be three years?" Zeke asked.

"Well, Mr. Griffith said that because there are a lot of airdates for each musical and there are a lot of musicals that I'm going to get into, so I need a lot of time."

"But three years… we'll all probably be at college by then." Jason said.

"I know. That means if I go, I might not see you guys again, unless we all go to the same college."

"Then don't go!" Taylor said.

"Sorry guys. But I already booked a flight for NYC on Saturday."

"But we were gonna have an after season party on Saturday. And you're invited!" Troy said.

"Way to blow the surprise, Troy." Chad said. Troy just glared at him.

"I'm not gonna be able to make it anyway." Ryan said. "I'm sorry, guys." For the rest of the lunch period, everybody was silent. No one dared say a word.

The next few hours went by like a breeze and Ryan found himself walking home. He decided to stop by the park and get some fresh air for a little while. He went to the big fountain in the middle of the park. He threw a penny in and made a wish. Then he went by the swings. He sat on the swing and started… well, started swinging. Then he saw something that he thought he wouldn't see.

"Gabriella?" He said while approaching the benches.

"Oh, Ryan. I didn't know you were gonna be here." She said, wiping her tears away. Ryan took a seat beside her.

"Gabby, what's with the tears? Why are you crying?" He said while wiping her tears away.

"Oh, it's nothing. Really."

"You really think I'm going to fall for that? Come on now, tell me what's bothering you."

"It's just that…" Gabriella hesitated. "You can't leave!" She shouted. Should I tell him now? She thought.

"Oh, I see why you're crying."

"It's just that, you said that I'll be safe when you're here. You said you'd always be there for me. So what happens if you move? I won't be safe anymore!"

"Sure you will!" Ryan shouted. "You've got Troy! You've got Zeke, Chad, Jason, Kelsi, Taylor." Ryan said. "And I'll make sure Sharpay will be there for you too."

"It's just that, I've never really had a best friend before. You know, since I've moved so many times. You're the greatest best friend any girl could ever have! And I don't want to lose you!"

I know how you feel. I don't want to lose you either. Ryan thought. "Ssshhh. Everything's gonna be all right. Don't worry. I'm coming back." Ryan said while he hugged her.

"You're coming back in three years! By then I'll be in college!"

"Okay, yeah, that part sucks." Ryan said. Gabriella giggled a little. Just a little.

"Wow, I made you smile. Cheer up! I'm sure they'll give me some breaks! And then I could visit you guys."

"Hopefully." Gabriella said weakly.

"Yeah, hopefully. Now come on. Let's get you home." Ryan said, standing up. Gabriella stood up with him and then started walking home.

When Ryan got home, he immediately started packing some of his things. He's not going to take everything with him. It's just three years and then he'll come back to pack for college.

While he was packing, he came to a picture of himself and Gabriella, kissing in the musical. He stared at it for a while, and then he hugged it and put it in a special box.

"I hope Broadway is worth moving for."

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How'd you guys like that? Ryan's moving! Well, don't worry, I'll probably update tomorrow or the next day since there are only a couple of chapters left! If you did't read my Author's Note up top, then I suggest you read it because I explained that I'm not going to have internet access for a while because I'm moving. So yeah.