Heavenly Habits

I'm panicking and I'm holding my breath in as he draws near. He wears a slight smile and I wonder what he's thinking right now? More importantly what is he doing?

I close my eyes too scared to even look at him when he is this close to me. One of his hands supports my back while the other is placed in mine. I am sure my hand is clammy and warm. His on the other hand is dry and cool. He is obviously quite comfortable with touching me. But really he should be. He's my best friend. I'm his best friend. I'm not supposed to feel like this, I'm not supposed to be nervous about touching him. It should be easy, normal, common.

His lips brush my cheek briefly and he releases me all in one smooth motion. I exhale and relax. Surprisingly, I am glad nothing happened, relieved in a way. He hasn't kissed me as I thought he would. Or well technically he did, but not where I half hoped, half feared he would.

Ryan snaps his fingers in front of my face and my eyes flicker open. I hadn't realized they were closed.

"Falling asleep on me, Montez?" he drawls.

Oh gosh, now he's hyper. He only calls me Montez when he's in a really boyish, crazy, energetic mood. His vibe is so infectious that I feel lighter, happier. I play along.

"Maybe…" I reply lazily.

He laughs and grabs my shoulders shaking me. "Wake up!" he cries in a silly voice and I laugh. It feels so good to laugh. It helps me forget about all that I wish I had, all I can't have. I focus on just being grateful that this boy is in my life. He could be a stranger to me, someone I never converse with. Someone I admire from afar.

Nope, I get to admire him from up close. Which is in itself somewhat of a curse, yet one I will live with just to have him there, by my side, all the time.

He smiles impishly. "No but seriously, let's order the Chinese cause I am starving and this popcorn is officially taking forever." He rubs his flat stomach to emphasize his hunger.

"OK," I say. I mean what else can I say when his action has now drawn me to his rock hard abs which are quite visible through that tight, thin shirt of his. I mean really can he try not to dress so damn sexy around me? It's even worse when we go swimming. Oh my lord is it. When he isn't wearing any shirt its kinda impossible to force my eyes off his chest and to his face.

I regain my strength and speak. "Maybe you just don't know how to work the machine."

"Hey," Ryan says, faking offense."Ok, so maybe that's a possibility. But you know I've never been good at that sort of thing." He pauses and smiles. "There is one thing I'm marvelous at though: ordering takeout. That I can do."

He walks outs the door and I stay put, not really sure if he wants me to come with him.

Suddenly, his head pokes around the corner. "Well aren't you coming?"

"If I must," I reply coyly and run over to catch up with him.

We race down the stairs and he wins as usual. We always race down flights of stairs and try to beat the other. I know it's childish, but its yet another ridiculous habit of ours. Ryan always wins though because he's physically active and I am pretty much not. Dancing may not be considered a sport, but it sure gets you in shape. Ryan's amazing body is proof. Believe me.

Ryan, always the humble one, doesn't say a thing about beating me, of course. He's such a gentleman, not bragging and boasting like every other guy would. He's so perfect.

We're both gasping for breath as we walk into the kitchen, him a few steps ahead of me, quick on his dancing feet. Another enjoyable factor of his hyperness is his tendency to dance all over the place. He's so cute when he's busting out moves around the kitchen, without a care as to how silly, yet hot he looks. It's like he's off in his own little world as he glides around. He dances over to a drawer and pulls out a takeout menu for our favorite place, China Taste.

"So you want the sesame chicken like always or are we feeling adventurous tonight?" he asks. He has his elbows on the counter and is hunched over the surface, scanning the menu.

"Sesame," we both say at the same time.

Ryan chuckles. "I knew you'd say that."

I shrug and smile. Hey, there are two things in this world I am positively sure about. 1) Sesame chicken is the way to go and 2) I love Ryan with every fiber in my being.

Ryan's light blonde eyebrows furrow in concentration as he peruses the menu.

"Hmmm… I can't choose between orange and Mongolian?" He looks up at me. "You choose."

"Me?" I ask. He nods, waiting for my answer. "Um I guess Mongolian cause orange chicken sounds awful," I answer, wrinkling my nose in disgust.

Ryan laughs and pushes himself up off the counter. His arms flex and I sigh lustfully. His arms contain just the right amount of muscle. Not geeky thin, yet not bodybuilder huge. They are just perfect. He rights himself and grabs the cordless phone off the counter.

"All right, I'll get Mongolian," he laughs as he dials the number.

I open my mouth to speak, but Ryan grins and interrupts me.

"I didn't forget about the fried rice…"

"But what about…"

"The fortune cookies? I know order four because sometimes the first fortune sucks." He smirks at me.

I stick my tongue out at him and he laughs.

Someone must have picked up the phone because he quickly composes himself and heaves himself up on the counter to sit. He pats the counter space beside him and I come over to sit beside him.

"Yes, hello. And how are you this evening?" he asks debonairly.

I giggle quietly and he motions for me to listen in. I eagerly press my head to his and listen as the woman answers "fine" in a shocked, slightly confused tone.

"Well, I am so glad. And you know what you'll be glad about: an order from me!"

I groan and Ryan tries to contain his laughter. What has gotten in to him tonight? I mean he's silly like this all the time, but he usually doesn't act like this towards anyone but me and Sharpay. Maybe it's the total stranger thing that has him going.

"Stop it!" I whisper-shout. "You're probably scaring the poor woman."

Ryan laughs. "Fine," he says pouting a little.

"I need one order of sesame chicken, one order of Mongolian chicken, 2 orders of fried rice, and can I get two extra fortune cookies?" he asks in his normal voice.

Ryan rolls his eyes at me. "Yes I am aware that the meals come with fortune cookies, but can I get two more? My crazy best friend insists."

I slap his thigh and he bites his lip, trying not to burst into laughter. I pout and hop off the counter walking out of the kitchen.

"1121 Hemingway Lane. Thanks," I hear Ryan quickly reply. I listen to him hang up the phone.

"Hey Gabs where ya going?" he comes out of the kitchen and I turn to face him, arms crossed across my chest.

"Crazy best friend, Ry?" I ask as if this troubles me. "That hurt." I joke, and attempt to put on a sad face although I want to smile at how cute he looks standing there in his pajamas, looking lost without me.

Ryan grins and walks over to me, wrapping his arms around me in a big bear hug, the kind I relish.

"My crazy best friend whom I looooove," he mumbles into my hair, teasingly.

How sad am I to do this so he'll say he loves me even when I full well know he only loves me as a friend. It only helps for a moment, yet I do it anyway, just to hear those words, just to feel that rush of joy surge through my body.

I sigh happily and breathe in the scent of his shirt. When he gets a girlfriend, I don't know what I'm gonna do. The thought of him saying anything but "The only girls in my life are Sharpay and my best friend Gabriella" when being questioned by others about his relationship status makes me sick.

Both Ryan and I have never had a significant other, but I am the only one who's never been kissed. I've had the great pleasure of watching several girls walk up to him in the halls at school and plant one on him. The only good part about this is his reaction: a shocked face, a polite "thank you", and once they've turned their back, a subtle swipe of his mouth on his sleeve. I crack up every time he does this and he just tries to laugh it off, but he turns beet red. It's incredibly cute and helps me shake off my jealous feelings. Cause watching gorgeous cheerleaders kiss the guy you're in love with right in front of you is really no fun at all. If they have the guts to kiss him why don't I!

I must also endure girls trying to get Ryan to go on dates with them. At least once a week he gets asked out and every guy in school thinks he's insane when he turns them down, but I am deliriously happy. I especially love it when the reason is because he has plans with me. And much to my delight, even when we haven't made plans, he still turns them down.

Sharpay thinks he's crazy, but I know the reasoning behind his polite declines. He told me its because none of them catch his eye, so why bother. He believes in love and doesn't plan on dating a girl just for a little experience, a little fun. In fact, he thinks high school dating is ridiculous. He always makes fun of Troy's love life calling his latest girlfriend his "flavor of the week" seeing as he tends to dump them after a few days. In fact, he once told me that if Bolton ever asked me out he would punch the living daylights out of him. Which I thought was aside from being extremely sweet and protective, hilarious because I doubt Ryan even knows how to throw a punch, but maybe I underestimate him. He has the tendency to surprise me.

He pulls away and asks, "Forgive me?"

"Yes," I say. "Now let's get back to the movie, you big goof."

"Yes ma'am," he answers and starts racing up the stairs.

"Hey that's not fair!" I scream as I race to catch up to him.

So please don't kill me because they didn't kiss! Lol. They will in due time, but I feel like this will probably end quite soon after a kiss and I'm not ready to end this story so you'll just have to wait for one. Haha.

I hope that aside from that, you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks for reading!