AN: Hey guys, I'm back. Thanks for the reviews. Trust me I did return them. I've got one more chapter after this so just enjoy.
"Later Eric," Kelsi yelled as she left her house Monday morning.
"Hey Kelsi!" Ryan's, Troy's, and Zeke's voices came from across her driveway.
"Oh man," she mumbled as they crossed from Troy's car to where she stood. "Hey guys."
"Hey," they said.
"What are you doing here?"
"We had to tell you something," Troy said.
"It couldn't wait?" Kelsi said with confusion.
"Um, no."
"Alright, out with it," she commanded.
Ryan reached into his back pocket and pulled out a white T-shirt.
"We're waving a white flag," he said, Troy and Zeke nodding there heads in agreement. "We're backing off. You've got your life and your things you need to deal with on your own. We've tried our hardest to help you, but you're going to handle this in your own way. But just remember that no matter what, we're here for you."
Kelsi couldn't help but smile.
"Ok then. I have just have one thing to say."
"Shoot," Zeke answered.
"Was the T-shirt really necessary?"
The boys thought for a second before Ryan stuttered out, "It's symbolic."
"It's pointless," she laughed, ripping it out of his hands.
They shared a good laugh before they realized they needed to get to school.
"Yeah, I've got to talk to Mrs. Darbus," Kelsi said, running to her car.
"Wait, hold up, hold up, hold up," Zeke said while they piled into Troy's car. "Has someone finished a song?"
"Something like that," she said, sliding into her front seat.
"Yeah," Ryan whopped as she drove away.
"You're sure about this, Miss Neilson," the drama teacher asked, looking over the music in her hands.
"I've never been more sure about anything in my whole life, Mrs. Darbus," Kelsi said with a smile.
"You've obtained all the copyrights and everything?" she asked.
"As long as we give credit were credit is due, and this thing doesn't go to Broadway, we'll be fine," she answered confidently.
"Ok then," she said, taking of her reading glasses carefully. "Congratulations, Kelsi. You've successfully made another masterpiece. I'll get this to the girls today."
"Thank you, Mrs. Darbus," she said, walking out of the room.
She closed the door behind her, only to find her welcoming committee.
"Well—" Ryan asked eagerly.
"It's a lock."
The boys cheered and locked her in a group hug.
"Ok, ok," Kelsi said, pushing her way out of the love. "Not that big a deal. Let's just go to lunch, I'm hungry."
They started toward the lunchroom. Troy reached in his pocket and pulled out a pen, then turned around and walked backwards in front of Kelsi.
"So, Kelsi," Troy said, interview style. "How does it feel to be the resident, frikin awesome playmaker of the East High drama department?"
"I don't know Troy, how does it feel?"
"Oh that's cold," he said, retracting his hand. "Just because I'm not auditioning this year, doesn't mean you got to go calling me names."
"Shut up, Troy. We've been calling you that since Twinkle Town," Zeke said, giving him a playful shove.
"Yeah, yeah," Troy said turning his attention back to Kelsi. "Have you given any thought as to what this production will be called?"
"No, I'm still deciding," she said.
"Fair answer," he said as they entered the cafeteria.
The group got their trays, and began to walk toward the table as always. When they were within seeing distance of their forever-claimed table, Ryan stopped them.
"Hey guys, why don't shake thing up a little bit, and a, sit up on the balcony," he said hurriedly trying to push them up the stairs.
"Ryan, what's your problem?" Kelsi said, pushing past him and resuming the walk to the table.
"Nothing," he said stopping her. "I just think change is good."
"Um, yeah Kelsi, he's right," Troy agreed, seeing exactly why Ryan was doing this.
"Guys, quit pushing me. I'm hungry, I'm tired, and I need to sit down. Now if you'll excuse me—" she trailed off while the one thing that could completely ruin her day went on in front of her eyes.
Chad and Taylor were sitting there, pretty much acting like no one even existed in the universe. With lips locked and Chad's hands in an almost explicit place, Kelsi's heart sank, just about visibly.
Suddenly Chad caught Kelsi 's eye, and broke apart from Taylor.
"Kelsi—" he said, getting up.
"Chad stop. I see your decision's been made."
She shoved her tray into his hands and ran off, Ryan at her heels.
"Dude, I thought we talked about this!" Troy suddenly yelled him.
"I know we did, but—"
"Then why didn't you listen?" Zeke shouted, the entire cafeteria now listening. "Are we the only ones who are thinking with the right heads? Can't you see you're hurting the poor girl?"
"Chad what's he talking about?" Taylor asked.
"Stay out of this," he commanded, turning his attention back to his confrontational friends. "Guys, I know what you said. I just haven't figured this out yet completely."
"So you think you should just play hockey with her feelings," Troy said, getting into his face. "She's too much of a good person to have you do that to her!"
"Don't you think I know that," Chad practically screamed, slowly backing up because the boys had fire in their eyes. "I talked to her and was under the impression I had some time to make a decision."
"You talked to her. Man, I'm gonna kill you!" Zeke shrieked, jumping at him before Troy caught him in mid-air.
"OK, EVERYBODY STOP!!!" Taylor finally screeched.
Troy stepped in front of Zeke to keep him from getting loose.
"Now I may not know what's going on here, but this is childish," she continued. "You guys are best friends why are you trying to fight each other."
"We have our reasons," Troy and Zeke said, Zeke finally having calmed down.
Taylor heaved a big sigh and said, "Chad, can I talk to you? Hallway?"
"This time, gladly," he said, being pulled by her out the doors.
"We should go find Kelsi," Zeke finally said.
"Na, Ryan's got her," Troy said, sitting down. "We don't want to overwhelm her."
"Ok, let's eat."
"Dude you just almost kicked his ass," Troy laughed after a second.
"Yep, just call me Muscles Magee."
"Chad," Taylor said firmly.
"Listen Taylor—"
"Don't try to explain, Chad. Just kiss me."
"What?" he said, thinking this was not exactly the perfect time.
"Kiss me," she insisted. "Just kiss me dahm it!"
Chad crashed his lips against hers. Their tongues fought for dominance for a few seconds before Taylor pushed him away.
"Did you really put your heart and soul into that?" she asked, feverishly.
In his head, he was trying to convince himself that he did, but in his heart he knew that it wasn't true.
"That's what I thought," Taylor answered herself. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Nothing Taylor. Nothing you need to know."
"Yes, Chad, it's nothing I need to know because I already do," she finally declared.
"What?" Chad said in disbelief.
"Yes, Chad, I know. I've known everything for a long time."
"How?"
"Come on, Chad, I'm not stupid," Taylor proclaimed. "I've seen the way she looks at you, and believe it or not I've heard you two fight about what happened. Twice."
"Excuse me?" he asked, still dumbfounded.
"The day I came back, I heard the whole thing. In the hallway."
"Oh yeah."
"Yeah, voices carry," she said. "Then this weekend, I would've had to have been deaf not to."
"Listen, Taylor I'm sorry," he said, wholeheartedly.
"Don't be," Taylor stated, confidently. "I say go for it."
"Excuse me," Chad said, confused again.
"Go for it," she said again. "I know that you can't handle me anymore, and if Kelsi is really what your heart desires, go for it."
Kelsi kicked the locked door to the drama/music room as hard as she could. The one time she didn't have her keys was the one time she need them the most. She kicked the door again. She suddenly no longer had control of her body, and began beating on the door more and more. Numbness over came her body, and she even couldn't even feel the tears cascading down her face.
"Kelsi! Kelsi Stop!" Ryan screamed, turning the corner and finding her in her fit of destruction. He immediately grabbed hold of her arms. As much as she fought back, he finally got her restrained.
Ryan set her down on the ground slowly. Kelsi finally acknowledged her tears, and then turned them into rocking sobs. Ryan just gently stroked her hair, and let her cry. She'd held it in for to long.
About five minutes later, when her crying didn't subside, Ryan left Kelsi's side for a moment, pulled out his cell, and dialed a number.
"Hey," he said when the person answered, "I think you need to talk to Kelsi."
"Alright," Sharpay's voice came from across the line.
"Hey, Kels," he said, tapping her shoulder, "You might want to take this."
"Who is it?" she asked incredulously, wiping away a few tears.
"You'll see," Ryan said, handing her the phone.
Kelsi reached for it, and put it to her ear.
"Hello?" she asked, running her fingers through her hair.
"Hey, Stranger," a familiar voice came.
"Sharpay?" Kelsi asked, surprised.
"The one and only," Sharpay said, proudly. "What's the matter honey?"
"It's a long story. You wouldn't want to here it."
"Oh that thing with Chad," Sharpay said, causing Kelsi's mouth to drop.
"Ryan."
"Yeah," he said.
"I'm going to kill you," she answered.
"Sorry, I was told to give a weekly report on happenings at East High," he explained.
"Yes, the thing with Chad," Kelsi sighed, turning back to the phone.
"What happened this time?" Sharpay asked.
"I gave him an ultimatum, me or Taylor, and he probably wasn't even aware that he needed to make a choice," Kelsi explained, rubbing her forehead. "Gosh, I'm such an idiot."
"Your not an idiot, hun," Sharpay said, sincerely
"How do you know that?"
"I just do," she answered. "Kelsi, can I let you in on a little secret?"
"Absolutely," Kelsi said, always wanting to find things out about the infamous Sharpay.
"Alright, well. I'm going to admit to you that I have never told anyone."
"Ok, shoot."
:
Sharpay heaved a big sigh into the phone.
"I, at one point, have kissed Chad Danforth," she admitted regretfully.
"Really?" a shocked Kelsi answered.
"Yes," Sharpay said, lament about having revealed this piece of information.
"And while it was during on very not fun game of Truth or Dare," she continued, "none the less, it was a kiss. And I regret it very much. Seriously, he was not as good as I expected he'd be. And his breath—"
"Same old Sharpay," Kelsi thought rolling her eyes.
"Sharpay, where's this headed," she said, impatiently.
"Oh sorry," she apologized. "The point of this is did you enjoy the kiss?"
"Yes," Kelsi admitted.
"Do you like Chad, and want him to be with the right person for him?"
"Yes," she said again.
"Then quit crying about it, and go after him," Sharpay commanded.
Kelsi laughed to herself.
"You know what Sharpay, I'm not the kind of girl that will do that. So, I think I will have him come to me, if he wants to, and then I'll take it from there."
"Oh, he wants to honey," Sharpay said, all-knowingly.
"And you know this how?" Kelsi asked.
"I know things," she explained as a cover-up.
"Ok, whatever. I'll talk to you later."
"Later," she said, hanging up.
"Well," Ryan said, returning from the bathroom break he went on.
"I'm going to let it go, and not force him into anything."
"Ok then," he said, offering her a hand up.
"You know I should talk to her more often," Kelsi said, brushing herself off.
"Yeah you are kind of missing a female presence in your life," Ryan said.
"You sound like my Dad," she said, pushing his shoulder. "Hey, you got a key to this room?"
"Yeah, why?" he said, pulling out his keys.
"Because I have auditions I need to practice for," she said, as he opened the door.
"Why do you need to practice? You wrote the songs."
"Not all of them," she said, closing the door behind her.
"Where's Kelsi?" Chad almost shouted at Troy and Zeke.
"We don't know she ran off," Troy explained, picking at his food. "Ryan's with her. I'd leave her be after what happened earlier."
"Listen forget about earlier," he exclaimed. "Where do you think she'd be?"
Troy and Zeke looked at each other.
"Where does she spend her time?" Zeke asked.
Chad smiled.
"Thanks buddy," he said, patting him on the shoulder and running off.
An: Now I'm going to attempt to participate in "The Games We Play: CHALLENGE" by Disney Channel Challenger so be on the watch for that. It will be Chelsi centric.
Review please!