Disclaimer: I do not own HSM.
A/N: I KNOW! I know it's been forever! Forgive me my faithful readers! I feel like 2008 has been a crazy year. Has it been for anyone else too? But anyways, I'm hoping to keep more on track with this now. Hope you enjoy! Please review. :)
Ryan's eyes darted to the bright clock located in the dashboard of his car. It was almost noon. He kept his hands glued to the wheel as he drove the long span towards the park. Ryan found a vacant parking spot, and slowly let the car settle in it. He turned off the engine, and sat for a moment in his seat. Sharpay was anxiously waiting at home, as he was facing the scariest situation of his life so far. He rubbed his hands gently over his face, sighing loudly into his hands. Ryan opened up the door, and climbed out.
He took long strides towards the middle of the park. His heart was pounding in his chest, and it seemed to get louder with each step. Beads of sweat began to drip down his forehead, as he tried to steady his erratic breathing. He stopped walking. He had reached the middle. Esther was nowhere to be found. Ryan looked at his cell phone. 11:50 Am. Damn his punctual nature.
"That's one thing I always loved about you."
Ryan turned to see Esther standing there. She was dressed in a form fitting red and black dress. Her black hair was down and curled all about her face. She was carrying a large black bag, hanging off of her shoulder. If she wasn't blackmailing Ryan, he might have thought she looked beautiful.
"I knew you'd arrive 10 minutes early. It's the performer in you. 10 minutes early is on time." Esther smirked at Ryan, as she continued to pace around him.
"What do you want from me?"
"I'd have thought you would have known by now, Ryan."
Esther stopped and stood right in front on him. Ryan gazed into her dark brown, almost black eyes. They seemed so cold and unfriendly as compared to Sharpay's. Ryan's mind was clouded with Sharpay, and knew that he couldn't let her down.
"I can't give you love…or whatever it is you want. I don't love you or want you."
"I know sweetie. If I'd have known your taste went more for taboo, I'd have tried to seduce you years ago. But obviously, Sharpay beat me to that one." Esther sneered.
She pushed Ryan slightly, motioning for him to sit down on a nearby bench. Esther continued her thoughts as the two sat.
"I want something else now. You fired me and left me completely homeless and without a job. I've had to do horrible things to barely make it through. Money, Ryan. I want money. I know your parents have it, so you better get it."
Ryan lowered his voice. "Or what? You don't have any proof of me and Sharpay."
Esther laughed loudly. "How stupid do you think I am? Of course I have proof! I've been sneaking around the mansion this whole weekend, taking hundreds of photos and tons of videos of you fucking the shit out of your precious little twin sister. You can hear her screaming your name. What a little cunt." Esther spat.
Ryan felt his insides twist. "How do I know you're not lying?"
Esther reached down and picked up the large black bag she had been carrying. She set it on Ryan's lap, and slowly unzipped it. Ryan saw nothing in the bag but hundreds and hundreds of pictures of him and Sharpay in many compromising positions. His eyes grew wide, as he quickly zipped up the bag. He shoved it into Esther's lap.
"I can't believe you."
"That's nothing yet." Esther flipped open her cell phone and began to play a short clip of Ryan and Sharpay. He shuddered as he thought about Esther's eyes on them the entire time they were making love.
"You're sick." Ryan could feel his stomach turning.
"That's just a sample of what I have. I have so many more videos and pictures in my motel room. So my love, are you going to play my game?"
"Don't call me that." Ryan demanded.
Esther laughed. "Oh darling, you're so silly."
"How much do you want?" Ryan questioned.
"$500,000."
"Are you fucking crazy? How the hell am I supposed to get that much money?" Ryan exploded.
"Not my problem, sister fucker." Esther smirked.
"When do you need it by?"
"Three days." Esther said. "And if I don't get it by then, I'll expose you to your parents and your entire school."
Ryan could feel his face draining of color. This couldn't be happening to him.
"I'll be in contact with you, Ryan. Until then, ciao."
Esther leaned in and kissed Ryan's lips.
"Oh, and these are for you." Esther shoved the large bag in his hands. "Don't worry Ryan, I have made multiple copies, so feel free to burn those if it'll make you and your bitch feel better about your incest fucking. Toodles!" Esther mimicked Sharpay, and was soon out of Ryan's vision.
Ryan grasped the large bag for a few minutes trying to comprehend the whole situation that just happened. His stomach was still feeling topsy-turvy. He slowly got to his feet and began to head back to his car. Ryan could barely stand. Everything was fading in and out, and he felt dizzy. He grasped his stomach, and lurched for a nearby trash can as his breakfast came rushing out. Ryan groaned after he finished, and staggered to his car. He climbed in, still unsure of how to handle this situation or how to even begin to explain it to Sharpay. Ryan suddenly felt hot tears flood to his eyes. He couldn't stop them if he tried, so Ryan sat there weeping at the horrifying thought of losing his one true love.
Ryan felt like a zombie as he slowly headed home. He didn't know what to do or say. He felt like this whole situation was so over his head. Ryan parked his car in the garage, making sure to leave the pictures in the car, and very quietly entered the large mansion. He suddenly heard footsteps running towards him.
"Ryan? Is that you?" Sharpay's voice floated through the house.
Her face suddenly appeared, as she rushed towards him, placing her lips on his. He kept her there for a moment, enjoying this kiss. Keeping his eyes shut so tightly, wishing that the meeting with Esther was all just a dream.
"What did she say?"
Ryan sighed. "She wants money."
"Bitch. Of course she does." Sharpay snapped. "She lost the hot guy so she has to get half of the assets."
Ryan felt like Sharpay was taking this very well. "She has pictures."
Ryan saw Sharpay stop, as her eyes widened. "W-what?"
"She has pictures….and videos….of us."
"Holy shit." Sharpay gasped. "This is really serious. How much does she want?"
"$500,000."
"Shit! That bitch doesn't play around."
The twins stood there for a moment, panicking and thinking at the same time. Neither of them really coming up with a solution.
"Ryan, how the hell are we going to come up with $500,000?"
"I don't know. And she wants it in three days."
"FUCK!" Sharpay screamed. "I can't fucking believe this! I fall in love, and then shit like this happens. Why me?"
Ryan chuckled slightly at Sharpay's dramatic fit.
"I have no idea how we are going to fix this, but we will." Ryan pulled Sharpay into a tight embrace. They held onto each other for what seemed like an eternity, until the phone rang loudly, making them both jump apart. They laughed slightly at their nerves, as Ryan answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Ryan, darling? It's your mother. I'm just calling to let you know your father and I are going to be home a little later than planned."
"Like how later? 9pm? 10? Midnight?"
"More like two days."
"Why? What happened?"
"Ugh, it's a long story Ducky, but basically your father needs to have a few more meetings before he can close this deal. Apparently the head honcho is having second thoughts before making this investment with our company, so your father and I need to smooth this over with a bit of the Evans charm. You know, right?"
Ryan smiled as he heard his mother giggle. He could hear his father talking in the background, but couldn't make out what he was saying.
"Oh darling, I have to go. Meetings, meetings, meetings! Kisses!"
"Bye Mom."
Ryan sighed, and faced Sharpay. "Well, it seems the fates are on our side. Mom and Dad won't be back for two more days."
"Weird…" Sharpay said. "Now, how are we going to get this money?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Ryan began to walk into the kitchen. He felt like he needed some carbonation to settle his stomach. He poured himself a small glass of Sprite, as the twins leaned against the counters. Ryan sipped his soda slowly, as they both thought.
"I think our only hope here is to ask Mommy and Daddy." Sharpay finally said.
"I hate to admit it, but you're right. We need a plan. How could we ask our parents for that much money and how would they actually give it to us?" Ryan asked.
"We need to tell them we want to buy something or we are having some kind of charitable event."
"You think they would believe that?" Ryan asked.
"True. We aren't very charitable people, and let's face it, Mommy and Daddy would demand to be with us before making any large purchases for us." Sharpay mumbled.
"Do you think any bank would give us a loan? Or maybe we could get a credit card?" Ryan questioned.
"Doubt it. We aren't eighteen yet." Sharpay sighed. Ryan watched her as her expression seemed to turn more into despair with each passing second. He knew there was no possible way to get this money without doing something completely irrational. He set his glass down, and pulled Sharpay into his arms. He immediately felt her break down and cry in his arms. His heart began to break, listening to her soft whimpers.
"Don't worry Shar. We'll figure this out." Ryan cooed.
"How? How are we supposed to figure this out? This is bullshit, Ryan! I can't believe Esther is doing this to us! How can it be right that she's blackmailing us? Fuck!" Sharpay yelled. Ryan felt her push herself out of his arms. He watched as she ran out of the kitchen, and could hear her footsteps trailing upstairs to her room. Ryan ran his hand through his hair, sighing loudly. He had to figure this out. He couldn't let their reputations be ruined, and he especially couldn't lose his darling sister.
Ryan now exited the kitchen, and also ascended upstairs. He stopped at Sharpay's closed door. He leaned in closer and could hear soft sobs. He closed his eyes, wishing to make this situation instantaneously better. Ryan continued on to his room, and closed the door behind him. He sat down at his desk, turning on his computer. It was the only light in his dim room. Ryan began to search around online for a few hours. He had to figure out some way to get $500,000 in three days. He continued to search long into the night, still listening to all the sounds coming from the room next door.
What will Ryan and Sharpay do? Will they figure out some way to get the money or will they end up asking their parents? Will they get the money on time before Esther exposes them? I just love adding these little questions at the end. Haha. :)