Author's Note: As you may have noticed, I'm updating until chapter fifteen. Enjoy guys!

Chapter Fourteen: The Kiss

After what happened with Sharpay, Ryan was wondering if he and Haylie shouldn't do the auditions.

The auditions were being held today, and he and Haylie worked hard with Kelsi.

Supposely, he heard that Sharpay dropped out of the auditions, considering Troy wasn't her partner anymore, and she couldn't find anyone else (Zeke offered, but Sharpay refused).

That made him abit happier, but he wondered how Haylie was doing, after her attack with the mountain lion.

Ryan found Haylie sitting on the stage, with her knees drawn up to her chin.

He smiled as he looked at her.

"Hey, Haylie. How's it going?"

"Fine, I guess...I was thinking about Sharpay, and I was wondering if.."

Ryan's face went white.

"W-what?" he asked.

"Maybe doing the auditions was a bad idea. It only made Sharpay mad, and now that Troy and Gabriella are back together, she's just even madder!"

Ryan sat down beside her, and smiled.

"That's Sharpay. She'll blow over. Besides, she has her senior year left, so it won't be a big loss for her."

"It's just that, I never excepted I'd make such a splash here." Haylie replied.

Ryan laughed.

Oh, yes she did!

"Well, me neither when I first met you...maybe your walking in Gabriella's shoes?" he asked.

Haylie laughed.

"Perhaps."

Ryan didn't care what Sharpay thought of Haylie, or anyone else, in that matter. Haylie didn't judge him on his clothing style, or the fact that he wasn't a basketball player. She didn't even call him a freak or a gay.

She accepted him for him, and that's what Ryan liked most about her.

"Hello? Ryan?"

Ryan snapped out his daydream to look at Haylie sheepishly.

"Sorry...Zoned out."

Haylie giggled.

"It's alright."

Ryan whipped his backpack from behind him, and pulled out a dark blue folder.

He got out the sheet music that Kelsi had given him, and looked at Haylie with a smile.

"Do you want to pratice?" he asked.

Haylie returned his smile.

"Sure."

They scooted closer so they could each see the words.

"You know, it's a wonder why Gabriella and Kelsi did this..." Haylie muttered.

Ryan shrugged.

Yes, he wondered as well, but he could imgaine why Haylie's two friends were playing matchmaker.

"Maybe...they want us to be together?" he asked quietly.

Haylie looked at him, and nodded slowly.

She agreed?

"Yeah..." she muttered, leaning in, until her face was inches away from Ryan's.

Ryan realized this, and his hands began to grow sweaty.

"Uh..." he started to say, but he was cut off by the bell, signaling that free period was over.

"Darn!" Haylie said, pulling back.

She started to pick up her backpack when Ryan smiled.

"Haylie?" he asked.

"Hm?"

Ryan leaned in, and kissed her on the cheek, making her smile.