AN: First off, I would like to apologize for what's happened this passed week. I got really very sick last Wednesday from one of my friends and have been coming in and out of consciousness for the passed week or so, therefore I was not able to write at all. And anything I did write was pure crap haha so, to make amends I am offering this chapter, which is twice as long as my usual, and an update by Sunday. I was originally going to split this into two, but I figure this is alright as well. So please, enjoy and review. I love you all and PTL that I am no longer sick!
DISCLAIMERS: All I own are the unfamiliar
Sharpay and Zeke kept their gazes fixed on the hallway. Gabriella and Troy had finished their song, cheers erupting from the rest of the guests, and final goodbyes being made, but Kelsi and Ryan had yet to return. "You don't think he killed her do you?" Zeke asked, his leg bouncing in anticipation.
Sharpay glared at him and he held up his hands in surrender, "What?"
She scoffed and stood, casting a glance at the rest of the guests as they made their way back to their tables. "Come on," she said to him, pulling him to his feet, "Best get to them before everyone else does." The two hurried passed the tables through the main entrance only to be met with an empty hallway.
They looked at each other then back into the hallway. "Where are they?" Zeke asked, casting a glance behind him before stepping forward.
"I don't-"
Suddenly Ryan appeared from the balcony exit, slamming the door behind him. His face was pale, but his expression as stone and Zeke swore he could feel chills pass through him. "Ryan?" Sharpay called out, but her brother didn't look back. "Ryan!" She called out again, still to no reply. Sharpay turned to Zeke and breathed in deep, her gaze flitting over to the wafting balcony curtains. Zeke nodded, motioning toward Ryan before Sharpay took off after him, leaving Zeke alone.
Taking a deep breath he quickly checked behind him once more, straightening his tie as the first few guests began to leave. He smiled politely, sticking his hands into his pockets as he backed toward the balcony doors. "Oh Zeke, that cake was divine!" Mrs. Danforth gushed as she came toward him, her hand gripping his forearm as she smiled.
"Thank you, Mrs. Danforth, I'm glad you liked it."
"Oh you must do the catering for our 30th Anniversary at the end of March!"
"Wendy, let the boy breathe, we can talk to him about it later, it's late." Mr. Danforth came up behind her and tried to pull her away, his eyes clearly tired and his face slightly red from frequent trips to the open bar.
Zeke smiled and took Mrs. Danforth's hand in his, "I would love to cater Mrs. Danforth, just have Chad or Taylor shoot me an email and we'll talk details."
"Oh, you've always been such a good boy." She squeezed his cheek and he fought back a grimace, relieved when he got to wave her off and his hand found the balcony curtain. Finally he was able to steal out onto the balcony and heaved a great sigh, but the relief soon left him as he turned to see Kelsi crumpled on the floor.
"Oh Kels..."
She had pulled her hat off her head and was sitting with her back leaning against the railing, one leg lain over the other and her eyes red and puffy. She didn't look up at him as he approached, only bit her lip hard as she tried to fight back sobs. Zeke unbuttoned his Jacket and kneeled down in front of her, resting one hand on her knee and using the other to gently touch her cheek. He pulled her gaze up to his and felt his heart break as she crumbled in his hands. She couldn't hold the tears back anymore. "Kelsi..."
Zeke pulled her into his arms and crushed her to him, feeling her tears begin to stain his shirt as she broke down in sobs. He shushed her, stroking her hair as he maneuvered beside her and shut his eyes, letting her cry and praying that this wouldn't break her completely.
Ring ring ring ring ring Ring ring ring ring ring
Martha groaned into her pillow, her eyes too heavy to open and her mind too tired to force them. She fumbled around reaching for her phone, cursing at the piercing ringtone and the way it seemed to cut through the air like a bullet. But she soon furrowed her brow, realizing how out of place she felt in her surroundings, like she was in uncharted territory. The bedside table was in a different place and she became confused as she became aware that she was on the wrong side of the bed. Her bed at the Evans' house was pressed up against the wall and angled at such a way that she always woke on her left side, but today she had woken up on her right.
Ring ring ring ring ring Ring ring ring ring ring
"I got it," a sleepy voice yawned out, forcing Martha's eyes open wide and her to sit up, stock straight. Her vision was blurry, her mind not able to focus in on what she was seeing. But as the ringing came to an end things started to come together and she found herself staring at a shirtless Jason Cross.
"Jason?"
He turned over toward her and smiled sleepily, holding out her phone as he scratched his head. "Yeah, hey, good morning." She took the phone from him, almost too shocked to question it, but became even more confused as he leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. He then proceeded to stretch, "I'm hungry. Are you hungry? We should go get some breakfast." He got up from the bed and headed off to the bathroom, clad in only his boxers and looking even better than when he had in high school. He had two tattoos that she had not been aware of the night before, one around his left arm and an AJ on his right wrist. Both made him extremely more attractive and made her extremely more frightened of what exactly they had been up to the previous night.
She heard the sink turn on in the bathroom and she quickly cast her eyes to the ceiling, silently praying that she hadn't done anything completely stupid the night before. With a sigh she looked down to where she was clinging the sheet to her body and slowly pulled it away, sucking in a breath as she saw she was in her underwear as well. Biting back a groan she sunk into the bed and covered her face trying desperately to remember the events after the reception.
She remembered that when Kelsi left their table she had turned her attention to Jason and listened to him talk about his new movie project and the subject eventually led to his inspiration: his kids. He told her all about his son and daughters, showing her pictures, explaining different anecdotal stories and how marriage and kids had changed him. She had thought it sweet, remembering how endearing Jason Cross actually could be when he wanted to be.
Since high school she had her share of run ins with Jason and his old independent film buddies; the type of people who could be gruelingly intellectual at times, which was always strange considering how thick Jason was in high school.
Though their contact had been few and far between Martha and Ryan had gone to see a few of his movies, all critically acclaimed, all masterfully made, but most a bit too deep for either of their liking. And, before the wedding, the last she had heard was that Jason was engaged to some movie critic. Now, nearly nine years later, just a tad longer than Kelsi's departure from the group, Jason was back; a widower with three kids, no longer active in the independent film circuit, and a strangely balanced mix of his two extremes.
And Martha had flirted. It was hard not to when he was obviously flirting back. And maybe they had had a few too many drinks together, danced a little too close, but this...
She stared back up at the ceiling and sighed. She had never seen this coming.
"Nothing happened, you know?"
She shot up, startled back into reality and immediately winced, her hand flying to her head. "What?" she asked, trying desperately to look up at him, though her ears were still ringing. She felt the bed shift beneath her and finally got to focus on him sitting next to her, smiling as he watched her movements.
"Nothing happened, well," he paused, "nothing except some really heavy making out."
Martha's brow furrowed and then looked at both their scantily clothed forms, unsure of what to make of it, before looking to Jason for an explanation. He bit back a laugh, "I think we were both pretty gone last night and came here with the intention of doing more, but kissing was as far as we both got before we knocked out."
Martha's brow shut up into her mass of curls and took in a sharp breath, "So you mean...we didn't..." She gestured with her hand and Jason shook his head, releasing a wave of relief over her. "Oh thank god-I mean-well, I didn't mean-" she held up her hands to Jason, realizing the implication of her words, but he waved her off.
"I know what you meant Mar and I agree, it's all really for the best."
She sighed once more and nodded, "Yeah, yeah it really is." She pulled her knees up to her chest, the thin sheet still covering her when Jason laughed and moved in closer.
"This way, when I kiss you, you'll know it's not because we were drunk."
Her gaze flew up, completely caught by surprise, just in time to find Jason's lips on hers, his hand snaking around her waist, allowing the bed sheet to slip between them. He worked quick, his movements distracting her until her eyes began to flutter shut. Then a shrill ringing broke through their lip lock, destroying the moment.
Martha pulled away, dazed and held up a hand, her mind still whirring, but the vibrating beneath her bum sobering her up quick. Jason didn't let go of her as she searched for the phone, a smile playing on his lips as he watched her flounder, and Martha could feel herself blush under his gaze. Age and maturity really had been kind to him. Sucking in a breath she answered her phone, "Hello?"
'Martha? Where are you? You didn't come back last night.'
Martha's eyes widened and then shut at the sound of Sharpay's voice, wracking her brain for some kind of alibi until Jason whispered against her ear, "Just say you were a little tipsy and I let you crash here in my hotel room."
"I couldn't drive last night," she choked out, trying to push Jason away, but not really giving much effort to it. "I had one too many glasses of champagne so I just crashed here at the hotel. Jason helped me get a room." She didn't want to mention going to Jason's room, it was likely to draw too many questions. Also, the fact that he had begun to leave small kisses against her neck was driving her crazy and she needed to stay focused. "Why?" she asked, steadying her voice and finally pushing Jason away from her body, "What's wrong?"
"Ryan and Kelsi had another run in last night and...it wasn't pretty. I need you over here now to help me talk to him."
At this Martha sat straighter, her attention fully wrapped onto Sharpay's words. "What do you mean?" she asked, concerned, "Is he okay? Did they get into a fight?"
Sharpay sighed over the phone and Martha cast a glance at Jason who also watched her with concern. "I think he'll want to vent to you about it anyway, so might as well let him tell you. Can you get over here quick? Do you need me to pick you up?"
"No!" Martha cried out, surprising herself at the volume of her voice and quickly adjusting accordingly, "No, it's alright, I can get there. I'll be there in twenty. Don't worry." She hung up the phone and quickly moved out of bed, gathering her clothes that were thrown across the floor and casting a glance at Jason. "I'm really sorry Jase, I-um, ow!" she fumbled with her dress, but soon enough slipped it back on, "I hate to do this to you, but..." she tried to find her shoes, "I really got to go."
"Is everything okay?" He asked, watching her as she found her other heel just under the bed and proceeded to sit so she could put them on.
"I'm not sure," Martha answered, "but I'll, um-" she wasn't sure what to say, or how to say it; she was still trying to wrap her head around the previous evening and Jason's behavior in the morning. But as she looked up at him, sitting in his boxers, watching her with an adorable amused smile, she caved a little inside and leaned down, "I'll call you," she promised, leaving him with a kiss and then pulling away. "I'll call you to let you know what's up."
He grinned at her and nodded, ruffling a hand through his hair once more, "I'll be here. You know where to find me."
She nodded and then turned, making sure she had everything before she moved towards the door. Just before exiting she looked back at him, almost to reassure herself that she hadn't just dreamt the whole thing, but found him still watching her, offering her an encouraging smile as she touched the door knob.
And suddenly she grew butterflies, waving awkwardly, but bashfully also, fighting the school-girl blush that threatened to spread throughout her whole body. "I'll see you later," and with that she left, her heart pounding to the hum of a thousand butterflies.
Kelsi lay staring at the wall, her eyes puffy, her nose redder than a clown's, and her breathing still in hiccups. After Zeke had calmed her down he was able to successfully rush her to his car where he drove her home straight away and deposited her into bed. He told Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen to not bother her, had even promised to come back the next morning. But Kelsi never spoke, just stayed silent, almost completely paralyzed by what had transpired between her and Ryan.
She had trouble sleeping that night, the vision of Ryan's face, the betrayal it had spoken, kept her up replaying their entire conversation.
"I'm a..." his breathing became uneven, "this is my..." and it seemed difficult to string sentences together. He looked around desperately and she wasn't sure if he was going to be sick or going to pass out, but followed as he took off toward the balcony. He placed his hands on the railing and began to breathe heavily, still clutching the photo in hand, but Kelsi kept silent, waiting.
He coughed gruffly, but Kelsi heard just the end of a question and stepped forward, "What?"
Ryan turned, making Kelsi quickly retreat, never having him look at her in the way he was before, "What's her name?"
"Oh, uh..." Kelsi folded her arms in front of her and let out a shaky breath, "Riley. Riley Melody."
He froze before her and kept her gaze before letting it fall away back to the picture and then up to her again. "Was that who you were talking to on the phone? In the grand ballroom?"
She nodded, biting her lip and looked down at her shoes, scraping her heels against the pavement. "She went to the zoo today," she sighed, fidgeting under his stare. "She wanted to tell me all about the peacocks and how colorful their tails were," She let a small smile slip as she thought back to the sound of Riley's face, "She wore my parents out! She's always so-"
"Wait." His clipped voice brought her eyes up to his and she suddenly felt a shiver run through her at the stony glare he had fixed on her, "She's…here. In town?"
"Uh-"
"She's here? In town? You brought her with you? When were you going to tell me?"
Kelsi stuttered, "I uh…I just did-"
"No, but if we had never had this conversation. If we had never talked about this she would have been here throughout the entire wedding and I would never have known I had a daughter within a twenty minute drive?" He stepped toward her again, his hands balled up into fists and Kelsi suddenly felt unsafe, a feeling she had never felt with Ryan, ever.
"I…I don't know. I knew we were going to have to have to talk but-"
"How? How could you know were going to do this? No one knew I was going to be here for the wedding. We kept it from everyone but Troy and Gabriella." His eyes widened, "So, you came here, thinking you wouldn't see me. Is that why you brought her here? Because I wasn't going to be here and I was never going to find out?"
"No!" Kelsi objected, but Ryan shut his eyes, his face growing red with a rage that she had never seen overcome him. "Ry, listen okay, I brought Riley with me because Riley goes every where with me, but I knew if you were here I was going to have to tell you. I just didn't know how or when or-"
"Have to tell me? You're damn right you had to tell me! And as to how or when to tell me that I have child Kels, that I have little girl! Don't you think the best time to tell me was when you found you were pregnant? Huh!"
Tears were streaming down her face as his voice rumbled within her ears and straight down into her heart. "I couldn't. You don't understand the choice I had to make!"
"You're right!" He yelled, throwing out his arms wildly, "I don't! Because how could you choose to take away my choice in being a part of MY child's life?"
Kelsi couldn't hold the sobs back anymore, she buried her face into her hands and cried, wanting to keep talking, to try and explain, or even for Ryan to hold her like he used to. But she knew that it was no use. It had been just as bad she knew it would be. She heard him scoff, almost grunt in frustration and leave, the doors behind her flying open as he went and slamming shut. Kelsi crumpled to the floor. She had done it. She had lost him forever and there was no way he would want anything to do with her or Riley ever again.
She sat there for what felt like hours until a pair of arms enclosed around her and she cried herself into a trance. He was never going to forgive her for this.
A gentle knock came to the door, but Kelsi couldn't force herself to respond. She kept staring at the wall, clutching her pillow to her face, but then a soft squeak from the knob came and she felt the bed shift only slightly. "Mommy? Are you sick?" Kelsi could already feel the tears coming back and she couldn't respond. "Are you hung over?" The laugh came unexpectedly and surprised her into a few labored hah's as she she shook her and turned.
"No, honey. Mommy's just…a little heartbroken."
Riley crawled up toward her mom and buried herself in the covers, discarding her mother's wet pillow and replacing it with herself. Her tiny arms wrapped around her mom and she hugged her tight. "Hugs are a bandaid for heartbreak. Right mommy?" Kelsi dropped her face into Riley's hair and nodded, a few more tears rolling down her face.
"Yes they are baby. Hold on tight okay?"
She shut her eyes tight and squeezed Riley back, "Hold on tight 'cause Mommy needs a really big bandaid for this one.
Sharpay leaned back against her brother's door and slid herself down to the floor. She was tired, her hair still in it's undo, but strands of hair falling in wisps beside her ears, and clad in a big U of A sweatshirt, sweats, and fuzzy pink slippers. She had stayed up for most of the night with Ryan, driving around town trying to get him to talk, but he just muttered incoherent words and sentences until he finally grew tired himself.
Finally, at about three in the morning, Ryan pulled into Sunbird Court and Sharpay recognized where they were.
"Ry?" she whispered, looking out through the window at the passing homes, "This is where Kelsi's parents live."
Ryan coughed gruffly and drove a little ways further, at first passing Kelsi's house and then u-turning back around. He parked under a tree three doors down and across the street before sinking into his chair. They stayed silent, Sharpay watching Ryan as he stared at the Nielsen's house and almost jumping when he spoke.
"She's in there Shar," He said in a raspy voice. "She's right there inside."
Sharpay sighed and crossed her arms, "It might be a little late to talk Ry, maybe we should come back tomorrow."
He shook his head, "But she's so close," then dropped his head and brought a hand to his face. "She's so close and now that I know she exists it's like I can feel her there."
Sharpay furrowed her brow, confused, until he breathed out, "And she's beautiful. Look at her, isn't she gorgeous?" He held out a picture that had been clutched in his hand out to Sharpay and she took it gingerly, trying to smooth out the folds. It took her a moment before her eyes could focus, but she found herself looking at a picture of Kelsi and a young girl smiling from ear to ear and her heart stopped.
"Ry…is this…"
"My daughter Shar. My daughter Riley Melody. And she's in there. She's, right, there."
After that Ryan opened up to her about everything that had gone on. All of his feelings in seeing her again, what they had been talking about on the dance floor and then their very different conversation out on the balcony. And Sharpay just listened, let her brother cry and get angry in all the places he needed to. And then when he was done Ryan seemed to exhaust himself, finally gaining a little relief from all the emotion. They had stayed there parked in front of the Nielsen's house for a nearly two hours before heading back to the Evans' home, and Sharpay insisted she drive.
Ryan didn't give up much of a protest, almost relishing in the rely morning air to stand and regard the house for a few moments before retreating to the passenger seat. And then the two left in silence, not speaking again, even as Sharpay helped Ryan into bed and then tumbled into her own.
She didn't sleep long, waking to her mother and father hovering over her and demanding why they had come home so late and why her brother had locked himself in his room. Sharpay felt like she was seventeen again for a moment before the full force of the day came back and she had to explain to her parents all that had happened. The Evans were never a family to keep secrets from each other and Sharpay thought Ryan needed all the support he could get. Immediately both her mother and father had moved to try and force Ryan from his room, but Sharpay stopped him. "He just needs some space guys. He'll come out when he's ready. I'll call Martha, maybe she can talk him out of there."
And she had, which is why she was waiting outside Ryan's room now, for his best friend to show up. Hearing footsteps down the hall Sharpay sat up and looked down, seeing a shadow first and then Martha's form appear from around the corner. "I'm here!" she said, waving at Sharpay and pulling her jacket closer, "Sorry, I didn't hear my phone sooner. Crazy night last night."
Sharpay let out an emphatic "Hah," before standing from her place, "You're telling me." She fought not to comment on Martha's clear "walk of shame" attire and instead turned her attention to the door. She knocked gently and rested her head against the door. "Ry?" she called out, "Martha's here. Can we come in?"
It took a moment before any response came and the two girls looked at each other, concerned, when a muffled, "Yeah," found it's way through the heavy wood. With a steadying breath the two girls shared one final look before Martha grabbed hold of the doorknob and entered the darkened room with Sharpay in tow.
AN: I hoped you liked that. Some Zekepay, some Jartha, some Momma Kelsi and her baby, and of course the wounded father. I hope this appeases you and I'll see you on Sunday. PS if you read my SLOTAT stuff THAT update is by Saturday followed by another on Sunday. Cheers!
-scribbling