Chapter 6

"Are you sure you want to eat at our usual table today?" Ryan asked Kelsi when they walked into the lunchroom a few days later.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?" she asked.

"Well, with you-know-who, and his girlfriend here-comes-the-slut eating with us, I'm not sure I could stomach it."

"You could sit somewhere else, I don't care."

"Nah, I'm a big boy," he said as they got our trays. "I just wondered if you wanted to."

"Ohhhh-kay," Kelsi said as they walked up to the table.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Taylor greeted them with her ever-present fake smile.

"Nothing much," Ryan said as they sat down. "Where's Chad?"

"Talking to Mr. Lewis," Zeke said. "He got in trouble last period."

"How do you get in trouble in Home Ec.?" Troy asked, laughing.

"You blow up your sewing machine that's how," Zeke answered.

"Again," Kelsi said as the group burst into more laughter. Just like old times.

"Who cares?" Taylor said, interrupting the joy. "I have to tell you guys something."

"Shoot," Ryan said, calming himself down.

"Well," she said, standing tall, "I think, now that I'm back, I should return to my duties as official entertainment coordinator of our little clique."

Kelsi rolled her eyes, and tuned her out.

"So, I'm organizing another movie night at my house this weekend."

"Awesome," Zeke said. "What's the theme?"

"Um, well," she stuttered, "I hadn't really thought of one."

"Oh really," Troy said, disappointed. "I like it when we have them."

"Can't we just wing it?" Taylor said, sheepishly.

"We don't have to," Ryan piped up.

"What do you mean?"

"Kelsi could probably come up with one," he said, turning to his left where Kelsi was doodling on her notebook. Everyone else followed his lead.

"Did I miss something?" she said, feeling four sets of eyes on her.

"Well, you came up with a theme for your party, and seeing as Taylor has no ideas, why don't you want to try?"

"I guess," she said feeling the pressure. Since Taylor had come back, Kelsi'd expected to go back to being ignored, but no matter what they lead Taylor to believe, the guys thought of her as there number one. Taylor had turned to superficial for them, and they were loving the fact that Taylor thought they loved her.

"How about this?" Kelsi said, not noticing Taylor was giving her the evil eye. "We each bring a separate movie from a separate genre. You know, one comedy, one romantic movie, one horror film, so on."

"I call the horror movie," Zeke yelled.

"Comedy," inserted Troy.

"I'll bring RENT!" Ryan said, causing them all to groan.

"The Producers?"

"NO MUSICALS!!!" They chorused.

"Ryan, why don't you sit this one out?" Kelsi said.

"Alright, Sharpay took all our movies with her anyway."

"There you go."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Taylor cut it, "Kelsi, who said you were even coming?"

All discussion stopped.

"What do you mean?" Kelsi said, folding her arms across her chest.

"Well I planned this party for me, Chad, Troy, Ryan, and Zeke," she said, doing the same.

"Come on you can have one more person," Troy defended her.

"I only have enough food for five people," she bit back. "Besides, the only movie left is a 'chick flick.' I don't want to be stuck with the chick flick."

"Then I'll bring it," a voice said from behind them.

They looked up to see Chad.

"Why are we arguing about chick flicks?" he asked, setting his tray down.

"Kelsi's trying to ruin our party," Taylor pouted.

"No, she's not," Zeke said, rolling his eyes.

"She wants to invite herself, so she's ruining it," Taylor screamed, stomping her foot.

"What are you, four?" Ryan said in disbelief.

"Guys I don't have to go," Kelsi said above everyone.

"Listen, Taylor," Chad intervened, stepping between her and Ryan, "why don't you want Kelsi there?"

"I don't know," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "I just don't think she belongs at my party."

Kelsi's mouth hit the ground, as did Chad's.

"Since when was this your party?" he asked. "We planned it."

"You helped with this?" Ryan said.

"It was my idea, and I say Kelsi goes."

"Why should she?" Taylor bitched.

"Because, first of all she's a part of this group," he said, "and second of all she was there for us when you weren't here."

"But—"

"Taylor," Chad said, grabbing her hands, "she goes."

Taylor stared at him with fire in her eyes.

"Kelsi, would you like to come?" she asked, suddenly turning sweet.

"Sure," she shrugged.

"Ok," Chad said. "Now I can eat."

But just as luck would have it the bell rang. The lunchroom cleared out. Chad sighed, and grabbed an apple off his tray. He turned around sharply into Kelsi.

"Oh sorry," he said awkwardly, trying to help her with her things.

"Don't bother," she said, pushing him away while she picked up her books.

"Kelsi, I—"

"Bring a sports movie," she cut him off, standing up.

"Huh?"

"Bring a sports movie," she said, backing away. "I'll provide the 'chick flick'."

"Oh, ok," he said, watching her walk away, again.

Of a mess of a dreamer with the nerve to adore you

Oh what a shame-

"Wow," Ryan said, later when they were in the drama room. He sat down on the piano bench across from Kelsi, who was picking at her guitar. "That was good."

"Ryan, that's not even mine," she said numbly.

"I know, but that's exactly it," he said. "I've never heard you play any song that wasn't your own. That was Taylor Swift, right."

"Shut up, Ryan," Kelsi said, putting her guitar away.

"Whoa, Angry Kelsi," he said, putting up his hands in defense. "Not something you see very often."

Kelsi cupped him across the head, just in time for Mrs. Darbus to witness it. She just shook her head, and continued.

"Mrs. Nelson, can I talk to you?" she asked her.

"Sure," she said, turning around on the bench.

Kelsi had been getting Ryan's help on some of the songs she was working on. He'd decided to take a back seat during this production, and just help with choreography and stuff. And if Kelsi had to say so herself, he'd been a big help while she was having her fit of writers block.

"Listen, dear, I know you are a fantastic writer," Mrs. Darbus said, leaning on the piano, "but I have a problem with one of your songs."

"Which one, Mrs. Darbus?" Kelsi asked curiously.

"The one you wrote that's supposed to be the final ballad," Darbus said, looking down at a lyric sheet in her hand. "Something about black roses being red."

Kelsi's heart twisted with the mention of that particular song.

"What's the problem?" she said, trying covering up her noticeable flinch.

"Well, it doesn't have quite the feel I'm looking for."

"Excuse me," Kelsi asked in disbelief.

"Mrs. Darbus, there's noting wrong with that song," Ryan cut in. "I've heard it a hundred times. It's perfect."

"I know, Mr. Evans. I happen to think it's a wonderful song," she said, taking off her glasses, "but I don't think it belongs in this musical."

"But, why?" Kelsi asked.

The drama teacher sighed.

"The ballad I would like Jacie to sing I think should focus more on the fact that she feels deserted by James."

Kelsi gave her a confused look as Ryan stood up.

"Jacie'd had a crush on James for along, and they were each others only comforts at the worst points in both their lives. Then he returned to his "friends" and ignored her. He was too preoccupied with getting his old life back. I would rather have her sing about that than have her sing about 'feeling like she's never known love'."

"Mrs. Darbus the auditions are on Monday," Ryan said obviously feed up. "Kelsi doesn't have enough time to write another song for the girls to audition by."

"Yes, she does," she said.

"Listen, I know she's good, but come on—"

"I have faith in her, and so should you, Mr. Evans."

"But—" he said as she walked away.

"Ryan, stop," Kelsi said, pulling on his arm.

"Kelsi this isn't fair to you," he said, pulling up a stool.

"Don't worry about," she said, reassuringly, "I don't have any plans or anything in the next few days, so I can write it. Besides I have other songs I need to work on. "

"Are you going to Taylor's this weekend?"

"Probably not," Kelsi said.

"After Chad worked so hard to convince her to let you come!" Ryan exclaimed.

She ignored him and turned back to her work.

"Kelsi, are you alright?" Ryan asked, concerned. He'd noticed that she was acting a bit different the past couple days. He'd never seen her have difficulty with her writing, and she was quieter than usual.

"Yeah, Ryan I'm fine," she lied. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "You just seem a little off lately."

"Maybe a little bit," she admitted, trying to look busy.

"A little bit?" Ryan thought.

"I've just been feeling not like myself," she continued, not looking up.

It was Ryan's turn to sigh. He had to come out with it eventually.

"Could it have anything to do with a little fro-haired basketball player we know and love?"

Kelsi's eyes grew wide before she gave another one of her sighs.

"How did you know?" she said, cringing.

"Please, Kels, it's my job to know these things," Ryan said, teetering on his seat. "That, and—"

"What?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Well," he said, rubbing the back of his head, "Friday night, I may have reached your room a tad bit before I revealed myself."

"Wow, you sneaky bastard."

"I know," he smirked.

"Who else knows?" She said, rubbing her temples.

"Well, I'm the only one who knows specifically, but Zeke and Troy have had their suspicions that something's wrong with you."

"Troy and Zeke?" Kelsi questioned. "Why would they care?"

"Because we're looking out for you, Kelsi," he declared.

"Why?"

"Kelsi you don't get it. We've been protecting and taking care of girls for so long. I mean you know how high maintenance Sharpay was, and Taylor and Gabi were with the guys, so we looked after them, made sure they were all right. And now that they're gone and Taylor's changed you're the only one we want to look after.

"But why me?" She pleaded. "I mean all I did was show you guys a few movies."

"Yes, maybe you did, but you also showed that our life will go on."

"What am I suppose to do, then!" she proclaimed. "I mean, I can't compete with that thing Chad has on his arm now."

"It's hard not to feel inferior when Taylor's around. Lord knows I do."

"WTF, Ryan," Kelsi scoffed.

"LOL, Kelsi," he laughed. "Take a joke."

"It's kind of hard for me to do right now."

Ryan dropped his smile, and took on a look of concern.

"You're really taking this hard aren't you?" he said, extremely worried. "Are you really that hypnotized by him?"

"I'm not hypnotized by him," Kelsi said.

"Then why is this so hard for you?"

Kelsi buzzed her lips in exasperation, and put her pen down.

"Everything just happened so fast," she admitted.

"What do you mean?"

She sighed.

"I had woken up that Friday morning normal Kelsi," she said, leaning onto piano, "and then I ended up taking over our whole group for a day. I mean it was all just different, and while I was trying my best to cheer you guys up, I came away with the greatest kiss I've ever had."

"Really," Ryan said. "The greatest?"

"Yep," Kelsi smiled before her hands behind her neck, and resting her elbows on her knees. "And now the guy behind it barely acknowledges I exist."

"That's not true, Kelsi," Ryan said, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Did he not defend you earlier?"

"Yes," she said, pushing his arm away, "but that's the only time he's talked to me since she came back."

She went quiet. Ryan picked up her pen.

"Kelsi, I think there's only one thing you can do," he said, as she lifted up her head.

"What's that?" she asked.

"Write your ballad," Ryan said, handing her the pen.

Kelsi wrapped her fingers around it, and stared at him for a second.

"Ryan, I'd love to but I just can't."

"Why not, Kelsi?" He demanded. "I've never seen you have a problem with putting your feelings down. Why has this ordeal changed you so much?"

"I don't know!" she exclaimed, throwing the pen across the room. "I just know having Chad and Taylor all over each other all the time is killing me."

Kelsi took a deep breath, while Ryan stood up and walked to where the writing utensil had landed.

"You're a strong girl, I'll give you that," he said, picking it up. "I've yet to see you shed a tear."

"He's not worth it," she said numbly.

"Yeah, I know," Ryan said, sitting down again on his stool, "but like you said this is killing you inside. Every person has there own way of dealing with things like this, and the only way I think you know how to is to write."

"You're right, Ryan, but don't you think I've tried that."

"You just some inspiration back," Ryan said.

"And what inspiration do you have planned for me?" she asked, taking back the infamous pen from his hands.

Ryan just smiled evilly.

"You're going to Taylor's this weekend."

"Yes, sir," she said, nodding her head.

AN: Hey guys. I rewrote this chapter for an important reason. First of all, I felt rushed when I wrote it the first time. I've had this story planned out beginning to end for a while. Then I decided to add this party into the mix, and I wanted to establish some things first. I hope you guys are enjoying this story, but I wish I could get some more feedback. Review please. The song was Cold As You by Taylor Swift (Love her!)

P.S. Who loves what Ryan calls Taylor in the beginning of this chapter!