Thank you to everyone who read or left kudos for the previous chapter. I appreciate the encouragement. Again, this chapter is 99% new material. I think there are literally two lines that I took from the original version. Basically, things change so much that it was easier to reduce things again to an outline and rewrite everything fresh.

The good news is it is Sunday in this chapter. Which means we are moving at a steady clip again. I'm sure some of you would've loved to see Chad and Ryan ring shopping, but the story must move forward.

Chapter 54: Burn the cornucopia

November 30, 2008, 9:23 AM MST

"You are not sneaking out of here without saying goodbye," Sharpay said, walking over to her brother. Just as Ryan was about to leave the house with Taylor to visit Gabriella at the hospital.

"I'll be back to pick up my luggage and Amanda. She wants to see us off." Ryan explained. Sharpay just gave him the look.

"Because Zack is her ride to pick up the infamous Marc and Nikki," Sharpay added.

"I am truly regretting not getting to meet those two. I've heard some stories." Probably not the worst ones; otherwise, Ryan would be happy not to meet the two in person. Although Marc and Nikki have tone it down a little bit in the last few weeks.

"I'm sure they would be too, especially Marc. Although probably not as much when he finds out you already have a boyfriend." As well as a girlfriend who is waiting for Kim and Troy to pick them up outside the house.

"I wouldn't use the term boyfriend. This is kind of the test drive stage. Not all of us get engaged after two months." Ryan said, pointing to her engagement ring. She is still using the loaner ring. Thankfully Sharpay found out later that it belonged to Chad's great-grandmother. She had an actually good marriage and not his grandmother, who miraculously survived her abusive disaster of a marriage. Thankfully Abuela Sanchez was a young widow. Chad did pick something out the day before, but it won't be ready until Christmas.

"If we were total strangers and met on the first day of school this year, I would completely agree with you that it's way too soon. But we've known each other for 13 years. We've been flirting with one another since the chocolate milk incident." Sharpay joked.

"I already lost Chad to you at five," Ryan said, laughing.

"More like you ended up in the Troy category. I don't think you're that upset about that." Sharpay smiled at her brother.

"Not at all," Ryan said, grabbing his bag. "The familial role suits me. Also, we all know Chad and Troy will be stepped siblings very soon."

"Very true," Sharpay said, walking over to Ryan and giving him a hug. "I have to do this now because we're having Sunday dinner with Aunt Claudia at 3 PM.

"I am so glad I'll be at the airport. Charles isn't going to be there?" Sharpay could hear the concern in Ryan's voice.

"No, because he already left for Cleveland Friday," Sharpay said as she pulled out of the hug.

"Thank God."

"Tiffany left yesterday morning to promptly kick him out of her house and tie up loose ends with her school. Thankfully she goes to a quarter system school and already had finals. However, her aunt convinced her to deliver here in Albuquerque to have us as a support system. She'll be moving back in December." Sharpay explained.

"It's for the best because Charles definitely won't be helping. Chad is still mentally freaking out about the babies but will always change dirty diapers and babysit."

"Good plan. What about the other horrendous relatives? I know Carolyn told Aunt Esther to go to hell twice." That was a very loud argument yesterday evening. The whole house heard without it being on speakerphone.

"She will definitely not be there, and neither will Grandma Danforth. Which is good because Claudia told Carolyn to bring Jack with her." Sharpay has already gotten the impression that Aunt Claudia likes Carolyn more than her nephew.

"I am so glad I'm flying out at 3 PM," Ryan said, walking towards the door.

"Oh, I have a present for you before you leave," Sharpay told him as she grabbed the small box out of the coffee table.

"And will this present be on the same level as the gift basket? Or like when Chad handed Zack his copy of the Idiot's Guide To Polyamorous Relationships yesterday?" Ryan asked skeptically.

"That was regifting something from Dad. Zack can get more use out of it than we can." Sharpay remarked.

"Even though you want to take Chad to a male strip club for his 18th birthday."

"We like to look together, but I'm the only one who gets to touch," Sharpay said as she handed the box to Ryan.

"Good to know. Is this a locket, like the one Jason got for Taylor?" Ryan asked.

"I did consider that because it's also something that Derby would never let us have. However, I think you might like this better," Sharpay said as she took the top off the box to reveal the bracelet inside.

"A charm bracelet?" Ryan asked.

"Remember three years ago I got you one for your birthday, and Darby threw it away? This is the replacement." Sharpay explained.

"Because we can't have stuff like that."

"She's not here, so we're going to do what we actually want. I already picked out a few charms, including a rainbow, twin stars, a heart, dance shoes, a basketball, and of course a theater mask."

"I'm not at all surprised to see the little basketball in here or the rainbow." Ryan smiled at her. "I was so mad at her when she took the bracelet."

"Darby is evil and never wanted to see us happy. Also, I guess that basketball represents Zack now. We will pick out more together."

"Is this your way of apologizing for telling Chad stuff first?" Ryan asked.

"I'm sorry I hurt you, and I wasn't as open as I should've been. But I don't regret Chad being someone I can tell my secrets to. Because if he really is the person I'm going to spend the rest of my life with, then he has to be the one I trust the most. I hope you're lucky enough to find that person. Maybe you already have." Zack spent the day with him at the hospital. He is definitely a keeper.

"I just wish you could've told me about Mallick and Darby's abuse." Ryan lamented.

"I know, and that's something I have to work on. I was trying to protect you. I thought I could deal with everything alone, and I couldn't. I know that now. I'm trying to let people in. It's a work in progress." Sharpay confessed.

"Don't do that again. If something big happens, you are to call me immediately." Ryan insisted.

"I promise. You better text me when you get to New York tonight."

"I will, even if it's going to be way too late. And I'm going to get no sleep before class tomorrow."

"You could've taken an earlier flight," Sharpay suggested.

"I know, but this way, I get to see Gabriella and get lunch with Zack. We should have one, not crazy date."

"This is true," Sharpay said just as Ryan leaned over to hug her. "I'll see you at Christmas."

"I hope it will be less chaotic even if we are going to be packing."

"It has to be. Don't forget I love you, baby brother." Sharpay said, pulling out of the hug and waving her brother goodbye. Even though he came because of the Gabriella disaster, she's glad he was here.

"I love you too."

xxxxxx

A few hours later

Considering the insanity of the last few days, Ryan's Sunday was relatively calm or as calm as it can be when you begin the morning with visiting your friend in the hospital.

Gabriella was quiet for most of their five-minute meeting. Although Gabriella was dressed in the robe that Sharpay got her. Maria dropped it off the day before. Gabriella did tell him that the hospital is not the worst place to process a breakup. After the mess that was Kelsi, Ryan definitely agreed. She also apologized for hitting on him in New York just to make Troy and Chad jealous.

At that point, he had to leave for Taylor to take his place. The doctor only wanted one person in at a time. He doesn't know what happened when Taylor was in there. The fact that he held her as she cried for 15 minutes told him what he needed to know. But it was easier to leave now that they got to see that Gabriella is getting better-ish.

Taylor opted to stay at the hospital when he went to lunch with Zack. She said it was to keep Maria company, but Ryan is sure she wanted him to have a few moments with Zack alone. Kim and Troy were there, so Maria wasn't going to be completely alone.

Lunch was significantly better. It was great to have a date with Zack that did not involve uncomfortable family interactions, hospitalized friends, or ex-girlfriend showing up. He got to hear crazy away game stories and about Zack's family. Apparently, Zack's stepsister already wants to meet him when he comes back. However, thankfully there safely away in Tucson at the moment. Only his aunt and grandma still live in the Albuquerque area. There was also a wonderful make-out session in Zack's SUV. A great way to end the date.

However, now they were back at the airport, ready to say goodbye. Ryan really didn't want to. Especially when Zack gave him one last hug after helping him get his luggage out of the back of the SUV.

"I am really sorry about the circumstances that brought you to Albuquerque this weekend, but I'm glad we got to meet in person before Christmas," Zack said, pulling out of the hug. Ryan would have kissed him, but he wasn't entirely sure Zack was ready for public displays of affection at the airport. Kelsi at the café was different because they both hate Kelsi with a fiery passion.

"Probably because of all the kissing." He heard Amanda remarked as she helped Taylor with her backpack.

"You know I didn't have to bring you here to pick up Nikki and Marc," Zack remarked.

"Yes, but I wouldn't have the chance to say goodbye," Amanda said as she hugged Ryan herself. "Text me when you get back to New York.

"I will. Also, my dad told me to tell you that you should definitely be his intern next year. I really think you should. It might help you decide where you want to go next." Because Ryan could tell, she was already tired of being premed. However, it's hard to let go of your dream. Maybe working with the Evans group will help Amanda figure out what she wants to do next.

"I thought about it, and I am going to take the job. I'm also going to take the rest of my general education stuff next semester. That way, if your father manages to convince me that I should switch to business, it will be easier." Amanda said, pulling out of the hug.

"Good thinking. I started out computer science and realized that I am much more artistically inclined and switch to graphic design. It takes time to figure out where you belong." Zack explained.

"True," Amanda remarked.

"At least you won't have to switch schools like me." Taylor lamented.

"You should definitely look at schools in New York in addition to DC," Zack suggested.

"Zack is right about that for several reasons. The University of Manhattan has a good political science program. Marc applied there but couldn't get a full scholarship, and his mom wasn't going to pay unless he got a girlfriend. So here we are." Amanda explained. That doesn't surprise Ryan at all from what he's heard so far. Nor should it be with the stunt Darby pulled with Kelsi.

"I don't have to worry about scholarships. Vanessa is actually the one paying for my college education. I really should've seen that for what it really was." Taylor's eyes darkened for a moment. The fact that Vanessa is her biological mother was still a subject that they haven't talked about much. He's aware that Taylor needs time. Thankfully she has a session with Mikayla Monday evening.

"It's OK that you missed it. I had no idea my mom's previous husband wasn't my biological father until the divorce." Zack explained as he leaned over to hug Taylor.

"I feel less stupid now." She remarked, pulling out of the hug.

"You shouldn't feel stupid. Sometimes you miss the obvious things in front of you because you cannot accept the truth. That being said, I expect a text message from you when you get back to Boston."

"I promise to text everyone," Taylor said, grabbing Ryan's hand.

"You better as well. Zack looked directly at Ryan."

"Actually, I might text you from the waiting area. I will need something to do." Of course, it was at that moment he realized that he and Taylor were leaving from different sides of the airport and probably couldn't wait together once they got through TSA.

"I expect nothing else," Zach said, leaning over to kiss Ryan goodbye. It was a very chaste kiss compared to earlier after lunch, but Ryan appreciated it all the same. With that, Ryan made his way into the airport.

"I'm glad you got your goodbye kiss. Although you still look like a kicked puppy." Taylor said as they made their way to check-in for their flight.

"I just realize we're not even going to be able to be at the same gate. That means we can't wait together." Ryan pouted. He knew I should've made better reservation choices. "Actually, we can't even wait in line to check-in together because we're not taking the same airline."

"We can at least go through TSA together. You know that's going to take forever. Although, I wish we could fly back together." Taylor lamented.

"I know, but it's faster if you go straight to Boston. We are already going to get back late as it is. Classes are going to be horrible tomorrow.

"I know. Long-distance I was taking all buses. The seven why is getting paid out on the fifth. So I will have to take the subway to either Pentagon or history. I need to see if the 21 is going to be operating later Relationship suck." Taylor pouted. Ryan was definitely feeling that. He hasn't even been gone from Zack for five minutes, and he already wants to text him.

"It will be okay. We can text and call each other all the time. Also, Boston is not that long of a train ride from New York." Not like Albuquerque. "I can see you on the weekends sometimes." Unlike Zack. Although Ryan has already decided that Zack is coming with them to the inauguration.

"Next semester. My grades are still shaky. And finals are going to be horrible." Taylor lamented.

"You have this," Ryan reassured her. "I know you'll do good, especially with the tutor.

"Progress has been made, and I don't feel as hopeless as I did during October. I feel bad that Gabriella is missing finals." Taylor remarked

"Although she did say this morning that she prefers dealing with her break up at the hospital. She'll be able to make everything up. Considering she still has a 4.0 despite all the drinking, I think she'll be OK."

"I hope so. This is my stop. I'll meet you at the TSA line." Taylor said, leaning over to kiss him.

"Somehow, you're making me look forward to the TSA line," Ryan remarked before walking away to check-in for his own flight.

XXXX

About the same time outside the airport

"You look like a sad puppy right now," Amanda remarked, now sitting in the same seat that Ryan vacated a few minutes earlier. They were currently moving towards the other parking lot to wait for Marc and Nikki. Their flight should be arriving soon, but no one can linger in the drop-off area on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

"I'm just sad about Ryan going back to New York. I finally meet a great guy, and he's going to school halfway across the country." Zack lamented.

"But his sister and future brother-in-law do live here, so he'll be back all the time. Christmas break is only a few weeks away. You'll be so busy with basketball and finals that you won't even notice it. In the meantime, you have text messaging and phone sex." Amanda remarked. They have hung out enough in the last few weeks for Amanda to consider Zack a friend as well.

"Finals week is always exhausting, although the first is the worst," Zack warned.

"Stop telling me stuff like that. Especially after spending all weekend working on papers. Chad said the same thing."

Thankfully, Jack did take time out yesterday to go over her paper. There were nowhere near as many typos as she thought there would be. She found out that in a previous career life, Jack taught freshman English. Although it's been a few years since he managed to get the health and fitness teacher/coaching position.

"Sorry. I will try not to stress you out."

"I still have to listen to like half of my book for English class." This class had way too much reading. Thankfully all the books were on MP3. She heard horror stories about the old four-track tapes. Thankfully most of those have already been phased out.

"You can listen while we wait for your friends." He said, pulling into their new parking space.

"I will even though I don't want to," Amanda said, putting on her headphones. "I really regret not taking the class Chad and Sharpay are taking. Although silver lining if I do flunk my current English class, I can always take the comic book class next semester." This is possible because her professor doesn't even want to give her a scribe for the exam portion of her final. She's going to have to take up the issue with disability services. She knows she will get the scribe, but he might take points off just because he's a dick.

"You also don't have to worry about losing your scholarship because you know Kim will make up the difference." Kim even told her that after she had a minor panic attack Friday afternoon in front of everybody because Amanda felt like she would never be done with all her work. That happened because 25% of her paper was lost due to voice recognition mistakes.

"I think Kim is giving out money like candy right now."

"Only to needy college students and nonprofits. She considers it all blood money and wants to do something good with it." Amanda remarked before hitting play on her MP3 player.

She was half a chapter in when her phone beeped. It was a boring chapter, so she was thankful for that.

"That was Nikki. They are currently making their way to the baggage claim area, so we should probably move to the pickup area." Amanda told Zack.

"Your wish is my command." Thankfully they made it to the pickup area just as Marc and Nikki made their way through the doors.

"Did I actually see the infamous Taylor with her blonde new boyfriend in the TSA line?" Marc asked once he was in the car.

"Is this who she was with?" Amanda asked as she passed her phone back to Marc and Nikki.

"Yes. When did you get an iPhone?" Marc asked.

"Friday. It was an apology present from Sharpay for accidentally dropping the old one in a puddle Thursday." Amanda explained without adding the circumstances behind the puddle drop. "That is the infamous Ryan Evans. A.k.a. Sharpay's brother and Taylor's boyfriend."

"It's more of a test drive phase," Zack remarked. Amanda will be good and not make a snide comment about them both test driving Ryan simultaneously. There may have been a very interesting make-out session that she watched earlier.

"Anyway, we just dropped them off not that long ago. So that was definitely Ryan and Taylor in the TSA line." Amanda explained.

"I didn't know Sharpay's brother was coming," Nikki commented. "I thought he had the good sense to hide in New York. Considering what we saw on YouTube, that was for the best. Now I understand why Sharpay only had pictures of her dad up in your room. Her mom seems like an evil witch. "

"Definitely tell Sharpay that tomorrow during lunch," Amanda added.

"I'm guessing he came because of the family chaos?" Nikki asked. "Situations like this require your family to be by your side."

"Something like that," Zack replied cryptically as he maneuvered his way out of the airport.

"OK, you're obviously not telling us something. It feels like we're missing some crucial details." Oh, you have no idea, Marc.

"I know you have a New York Times Digital subscription along with one to the local paper. Did you read any of the articles about The Romeo and Juliet of Albuquerque? Or the New York Times exclusive about the Beijing hotel heiress kicked out of the family for trying to murder her grandchild?" Amanda asked. The whole saga was now all over the Internet because the evil bitch just had to do a New York Times exclusive interview.

"No, because I was too busy dealing with the announcement of my mom's next marriage?" Oh, that's not good.

"She's getting married again. To Terrence? He was a prick." They all really hated Terrence.

"He was, which is why she dumped him the week after classes started. But then she started dating Michael, who is also a dick. As well as highly homophobic. I will be looking for summer employment, so I don't have to go back home ever again. They're really upset about me voting for Obama." Marc lamented.

"I've already talked to my parents, and Marc's actually going to stay with us for winter break. You as well." This would be better for Amanda. With her father in the hospital long-term now, her mom was never there anyway. It will be better just to give up all pretense of trying to be a family.

"I'm happy to have options. You're really going to want to read those articles." Amanda suggested.

"Find. I'm logging into my New York Times account now and… Oh shit! That's a picture of Kim." Marc exclaimed.

"Yep. Let me warn you upfront that the interview from Kim's biological mom will make you want to throw up. Also, a good portion of it is lies." Amanda warned. Kim nearly broke her laptop reading it.

"Also, don't read anything that came from an interview with Troy's Aunt Julie. That interview is 90% lies as well. I can't believe she still went to press even after she saw the video." Zack remarked darkly.

"Which might be why that video ended up on the Internet. Apparently, it's trending number four on YouTube after the engagement video." Nikki remarked, obviously doing a search now that she knew there was something to look for.

"Kim is a billionaire?" Marc asked, still reading the New York Times article.

"Not yet. Kim doesn't get all that money until her grandfather dies. Although she does have full access to her trust fund. Kim is now in charge of getting all food for final study sessions."

"That seems fair," Nikki remarked.

"Fuck, this is a mess. Is the part about Kim's mom trying to kill her one of the lies you warned about?" Marc asked.

"No, that happened. Although, the evil one was really trying to kill Alex." Amanda told him bitterly. She despises the woman.

"What the hell happened this weekend?" Nikki asked.

"A lot. But Zack has a boyfriend now." Amanda exclaimed happily.

"As I stated earlier, it's the test drive phase."

"Congratulations." Nikki offered. "I want details. Wait, you said test drive phase when referring to Taylor and Ryan… Really?"

"Yes," Zack answered simply.

"Congratulations on your new poly relationship." Nikki offered.

"Okay, now I really want details." Marc requested.

"This is going to be a long story," Amanda warned.

"We have a long ride back," Nikki commented.

"Then you can tell me what happened at your house over the break." She really was curious.

"I'm pretty sure my parents are keeping something really big for me, but I'm afraid to ask. So spill." Nikki replied.

"Chad came out to his father. That ended up with him breaking his cell phone and Charles's nose." Oddly that was the safest place to start this weekend, especially with Marc and Nikki. Nikki's parents were accepting of her being a lesbian; Marc's were not.

"Oh, God. You're right; this is going to be a long story." Nikki sighed.

"We should've picked up popcorn," Marc added.

"Definitely."

"Nikki, you will be happy to know you no longer have the youngest sibling in the group. Chad is getting brand new twin half-siblings by a girl he went to high school with because his dad can't keep his dick to himself. She's the same age as Jamie." As she says, this Zack grips the steering wheel just a little tighter.

"Oh shit," Marc exclaimed. "Now I'm glad I was in Arizona this weekend."

"Why does this all sound like something straight out of a soap opera?" Nikki asked her friend.

"It is. The YouTube videos and media interviews only tell part of the story." Amanda said as she started to tell them what happened this weekend.

Although she did leave a few key things out, including Taylor finding out she's adopted and Gabriella's hospitalization. That stuff was too personal. She would have left out the child abuse stuff, but one of Chad's stupid relatives already spilled that secret all over YouTube. It's going viral.

Amanda didn't think she would be looking forward to classes starting back. After the chaos of Thanksgiving 2008, she was ecstatic. Thank God the chaos was over. It was a miracle they all survived.

To be Continued…