Author's Note: Here's chapter six! Enjoy!

Chapter Six: Regina and Ryan

It was the day after Regina told Haylie off, and Ryan was going to have a word with her: without her getting all over him, that is.

"Regina?" he called from backstage, and there was no sign of anyone, except for himself.

"Looking for me?"

Ryan turned around to see Regina standing there, smiling.

"Yeah..I was. I mean, I am." Ryan stated, and Regina looked at him.

"Well? What is it?" she asked.

Ryan led her towards the couch, and as they got comfortable, Ryan started.

"I think what you said to Haylie..well, what I think you said, was sort of mean." Ryan explained, and Regina widen her eyes.

"Of course not! I'd never say anything mean to Haylie! She's too nice of a person, Ryan. Besides, she's your girlfriend." Regina replied.

What was with this innocence act?

Ryan sighed, and folded his arms as he looked at her.

"I knew you said something that upsetted her, Regina." Ryan told her.

"Are you she isn't lying to you to get attention? Maybe Sharpay is rubbing off on her." Regina responded.

"She'd never do that. If she did, she'd have a really good reason." Ryan explained.

"She isn't some little girl, Ryan. Stop trying to protect her! God, she's seventeen years old!" Regina stated.

Ryan frowned, but then it turned into a smile.

"I know she isn't a little girl. But, I promised myself I'd protect her no matter what."

"Just listen to yourself talk! A promise isn't ment to kept, Ryan. It's ment to be broken. You promised yourself that, and where does it lead you? With a black eye!"

"That may be true, but I kept it by standing up for her. And she's grateful for it."

"For doing what? If you protect her so much, how does she repay you back? She barely stood up for you when I--"

Regina closed her mouth just then, and Ryan looked at her.

"Then what?" he asked.

Regina shook her head, and Ryan glared at her.

"Alright! Fine! I told her alot of stuff about you, and she ended up bawling. I didn't know a seventeen year old girl could still cry!"

Ryan really glared at her then.

"Every girl does, Regina. Even you, I bet." Ryan replied.

"I do not! That's really rude, Ryan." Regina explained.

"Admit it. Even Sharpay cries, and she's seen as the Mountain Lion." Ryan pointed out, and Regina rolled her eyes.

"I don't even know why I'm having this discussion with you! This is totally pointless!" Regina said flatly.

"It isn't. I've seen it all before: your just jealous because every good-looking guy is taken, and you'll be left with some nerd."

Regina looked at him with a frown on her face.

"I'm not that judgemental!"

"To me, you are like my sister in her former ways: dissing every guy that came in her path, and tried to destroy a life of a girl she barely knows. Trust me: I've seen it all before, and not just in this school, neither. At the lodge where I been to, a girl admitted that Sharpay was basically a Mountain Lion that didn't deserve what she was getting." Ryan told her, and Regina nodded, the frown slowly vaporing.

"I just don't get why you like Haylie so much."

Ryan chuckled slightly at her statement.

"Everyone keeps asking me that. I must sound like a broken record. All I can say is, she's just special. She's not a clone, or does she try to copy someone else. Everyone thinks she looks like Sharpay's best friend...well, she is, but she doesn't have her personality. Basically, that's why I like her. Her personality is something refreshing."

Geez, wasn't this a weird conversation?

They sat in silence for awhile before Regina nodded.

"I see. Well, your one of the couples who might actually make it to their college years, Ryan."

"If we ever do...me and Haylie are going to go to seperate colleges. I'm trying to convince her to come with me and Sharpay." Ryan explained, and a smile reappeared on Regina's lips, and it was a smile that Ryan could only see as semi-friendly.

"I hope she does...she doesn't know how lucky she is to have a guy like you, Ryan."

Ryan smiled as he got up, and Regina did too.

"I think she does already." Ryan stated as Regina grabbed her bag from the floor.

"I guess I'll see you around...Haylie too, if she isn't too mad at me." Regina explained, and as Ryan was saying good-bye, his cellphone cut him off, and Ryan clicked "send".

"Hey! Where have you been?" Haylie asked as Ryan stepped out from behind the curtain.

"Talking." Ryan replied.

"Talking to who?" Haylie asked.

"Believe it or not, Regina." Ryan stated, and Haylie raised an eyebrow.

"Regina? What did she want?"

"We were just talking about you...nothing you really should be concerned about. Unless it's the fact that she completely understands that you and I belong together." Ryan said, and he could hear Haylie smile.

"Well, that's good. I was really starting to wonder if she wasn't really that bad."

"Maybe she just felt jealous. That's how most of these things start, anyways. Every girl gets jealous of another girl, and so forth." Ryan explained.

"So, does that mean were still up to do the play?" Haylie asked.

"Haylie, what do you think?"

Haylie laughed, and Ryan grinned.

"Yeah, I guess we are. Ms. Darbus is counting on us."

"Unless you really wanted to back out, I'm fine with that..."

"Ryan, I'm not giving up this play!" Haylie stated.

"I'm just checking." Ryan responded.

There was a pause before Haylie asked, "You know, Ms. Darbus wants Cinderella and Prince Charming to run through their lines again..."

Ryan grinned as he neared the school parking lot.

"Say no more. I'll be over there in ten minutes."

"Okay, I'll see you later."

He clamped his cellphone shut after saying good-bye to her, and opened up his car door.

Talking to Regina was slightly strange, but he should be used to it by now: everyone seems to after him these days, and could blame him?

Possibly not himself, or Haylie.

Maybe it was him?

Or not?

But, whatever it was, he sure hoped it went away.

Because the only thing he had to worry about now was Haylie and how this play was going to affect everyone.