Heavenly Habits

All right this chapter is all about the reactions. This chapter: Sharpay, Ms. Montez, and Taylor. Enjoy!

"You know, one of us is gonna have to get up to put the movie in," I remind him, pressing my forehead to his and kissing his nose. How wonderful is it that I'm able to do that now. Kiss his nose, his lips, his forehead, his neck, whenever I want to. I don't have to repress any feelings, hold anything back. It's all laid out on the table now. And how lucky am I that Ryan had something to lie out too.

"I don't want to get up," he says, and buries his face in the crook between my neck and shoulder.

I giggle. "Me neither."

We're both silent for a moment, just enjoying being with each other, like we haven't before. An intimate love that goes beyond friendship. The true, delicateness of love, like you are my other half- I want to be with you forever- you are my life now- love.

He slowly rises up off the couch and walks over to the DVD player, putting Funny Face on.

He walks back over and wraps an arm around me as we get cozy on the couch, kicking back to watch the film. And it feels wonderful. Cause he's still my Ryan, my best friend. But he's like the love of my lifenow too.

And he's kind of been the love of my life since the ninth grade, but now he actually…is. Because it turns out I'm the love of his life too.

And its like you can't even imagine how it is to have love reciprocated until you've actually experienced it, because its such a defining moment in your life. I feel whole, at peace with myself and who I am and who I'm going to be, with Ryan there with me all the way.

He turns towards me and pulls me into a kiss. Spontaneously. Just because he wants to. His hands fly to my waist, mine to his hair. We're in the middle of a heavy lip lock, when we hear someone behind us gasp.

We both open our eyes and break apart to find Sharpay standing behind the couch her mouth wide open in shock. She's dropped her expensive handbag on the floor and her arms hang by her sides, limply, her rhinestone covered cell phone deathly close to dropping from her manicured hand. Suddenly she starts screaming and jumping up and down ecstatically, clapping her hands together. "I just knew it!" she screeches and races over to the couch, plopping down between us.

Ryan and I grin as Sharpay starts talking at a mile a minute, patting us both on the knees excitedly. "Oh you two! I just knew you liked each other. I mean, god I could sense the sexual tension from like a mile a way. Oh tell me everything. Who cracked first?"

Ryan raises his hand with a shy smile and Sharpay giggles. "Aw what did you say? You better have been romantic!" she scolds punching his shoulder lightly and then turning to wink at me.

"Don't worry, Shar," I say. "His monologue was perfect."

"Monologue?!" Sharpay says, gasping. "You had like a speech. Aw Ry, how cute." She pinches his cheek and Ryan blushes a little.

"Aw, I won't embarrass you by discussing it now…" she starts and then turns to me, whispering in my ear. "But you better tell me every word later." I nod happily and Ryan sighs.

"You know what I don't even care what you two are whispering about, I'm just glad that you're glad Shar."

"Why wouldn't I be, Ry?" she asks, appalled. "I love you, I love Gabriella. I've always thought you liked each other as more than friends. I'm sensing this is like more than like though, right? Cause I mean you guys already loved each other like friends before so you guys are like definitely in love, right?"

We both nod and Sharpay squeals. "Oh my god, your kids are gonna be adorable. They'll have perfect curly brown hair like Gabs and Ryan's blue eyes. Oh my gosh and I'll have to plan your wedding. I'm thinking like a winter wedding. Your color scheme could be like ice blue and silver. It'd be gorgeous…"

"Whoa, slow down there Shar," Ryan says. "We're seventeen."

"Someday though, would be nice," I whisper shyly.

Ryan smiles at me. "I agree."

"Awwwwww!" Sharpay says looking back and forth between us. "What are you guys watching? Is this Funny Face? Oh my gosh, Audrey Hepburn is so pretty."

She pauses and looks at Ryan. "Wait am I like interrupting something? I'll go…"

I reach out and grab Sharpay's hand. "No, stay Pay. We don't mind."

Ryan nods. "Yeah, stay Shar. Things are still gonna be the same you know. I don't want this to be like we always have to be alone now. I mean sure, every once in a while…" Ryan says with a wink. "But I don't wanna quit having Shar/Gabs/Ry time. Okay?"

Sharpay nods. "Ok, cool, cause I mean you know I don't want to be in the way or anything, but I'd really miss you guys if you were always off doing things by yourselves. You guys are my best friends."

I give Sharpay a quick hug. "I'd miss you too."

Ryan pecks her on the cheek. "Pay, you'd never be in the way."

Sharpay giggles. "You just rhymed. No, but I'm glad we got this settled. I'm really happy for you guys."

We all grin at each other and flop back on the couch, watching Audrey in all black, dancing around the café.

---

The movie comes to a close and we all clap like the silly kids we are. I glance at the clock and it's ten. If I don't get home soon my mother will probably call the police. My other can be a little…imperious.

"I gotta go," I say sadly, wishing I didn't have to leave.

"Oh wow, you do Gabs, its past your curfew," Ryan says concerned.

Sharpay gives an all-knowing smile and hops off the couch. She gives me a quick hug and a happy kiss on the cheek. "I'll leave you two to your goodbyes," she says cheerily. "Night, Gabby, or should I say… sis! See you tomorrow," she trills as she saunters out of the theater.

"Don't you find it hilarious that our togetherness puts her in a good mood?" Ryan asks, amused. He takes my hand and leads me out of the theater room, humming the closing tune of Funny Face under his breath.

We reach the huge front doors and Ryan pulls me into a passionate kiss. "Well, I guess we better get you home."

"I guess," I whisper sadly and grab my backpack. "Do you need to get shoes or anything?" I ask, with a grin.

"Nah," Ryan answers, clicking his feet together like Dorothy. "I kinda like this whole black socks thing."

I laugh and we walk out the doors to Ryan's car.

Ryan puts a Michael Buble album in his stereo and skips to How Sweet It Is, and sings along as he drives down the long winding road out of his neighborhood and into mine, pointing cheesily at me when he sings "to be loved by you."

We reach my house and Ryan hops out of the car first, walking around the car to open my door and helping me out.

We walk up the long stone pathway up to my red front door and stop under the awning. Ryan pecks my lips sweetly and says, "Night, Gabs. Pick you up tomorrow. I love you."

My heart still melts every time he says that because this time I know its not just I love you, but I'm in love with you. It makes me want to scream eeeeeeeeeee like Leisl in the Sound of Music.

"I love you, too. Night Ry."

He grins and kisses my forehead. "You and Shar need to have a sleepover real soon," he says with a lazy grin. "I just might crash."

"Ryan Evans," I scold and he chuckles as he starts to walk off.

"Wait, Ryan, your sweatshirt?" I call out.

"Keep it," he calls as he gets into his car and drives off, smiling at me the whole way as I watch him leave.

I let out a little squeal and calm myself down before walking into my house. Do I tell my mother? Do I not? I really don't know how this works. Never having a boyfriend before, I wouldn't know. But you know what, I don't even consider him my boyfriend; he's just the person I love. I don't really like that label, "boyfriend". It makes me think of Troy and his "girlfriends". Troy's relationships didn't mean anything. Ryan means something to me, a whole lot of something.

I take my silver key out of my pocket and slowly unlock the door. I step inside and find my mother sitting on the steps in her robe.

"Hi, Mom. Sorry I'm late," I say, hoping she isn't angry.

She just smiles at me. "It's ok, Gabby. You're only a half hour late. I'll let it slide."

I look at her funny. My mother never just lets things slide. "Mommy, are you ok?" I ask, sitting down next to her and feeling her forehead.

My mother giggles and cups my face in her hands. "So you and Ryan, huh, mi amor? I saw him kiss you."

I blush a little and nod. If everyone's reaction is gonna be like this I'm going to turn permanently red.

"Oh, sweetie, I'm so glad. That Ryan is a very nice boy. He's always treated you right, and he's such a gentleman, and he's very handsome."

"Mommy," I moan, through my smile. She kisses both of my cheeks and brings me to my feet. "Off to bed, Ella," she says, sternly.

I give her a hug. "Night, Mama."

I walk up the stairs and into my room, collapsing on my lavender-duvet covered bed. I glance over at the phone on my nightstand, slightly dreading the fact that I should use it. Taylor's probably still up studying. I should call…

I sigh. I better get this over with. If I don't tell her now, she'll have to find out at school and then Ryan and I would probably die from embarrassment.

I dial Taylor's number and lie back on my bed, listening to the phone ring and ring. Maybe she won't pick up.

"Hey Gabby, why aren't you asleep?"

"Promise not to freak," I say slowly and calmly.

Taylor screams and I have to hold the phone away from my ear.

"Never mind," I mumble.

"You finally told him!" Taylor screams.

I hear an angry "TAYLOR" in the background and a muffled "Sorry".

"You did, didn't you?" Taylor shout-whispers.

"Actually, he told me."

"What? Seriously! Oh my god, Gabs, tell me everything."

"Well, he told me he loved me, as more than a friend, and Tay he was so romantic and adorable and he told me everything he loved about me. It was perfect."

"Awwww. That's so cute. Did you kiss him?"

"Yeah," I say softly and Taylor squeals.

"Was it like everything you ever imagined?"

"Everything and more, Tay."

"Ahhh! I just can't believe it, you know. I mean, I've been like as invested in this as you were…"

"Taylor, are you crying?"

I hear her sniffle. "Maybe a little."

"Taylor," I laugh.

"I'm just so happy!

"Oh, Taylor," I giggle, finding myself swiping a tear that falls across my cheek.

All righty folks hope everyone's reactions were enjoyable. Last chapter is coming up, sadly.

I'll try to make it sort of long. We'll get the school's reaction, like Troy, Chad, etc. And more cute Ryella moments, of course.

Oh and I got this awesome idea from someone to put this story in Ryan's POV. Would anyone like that or enjoy that? Or would you guys be bored reading the same thing from someone else's POV. I'd love to hear what you think! It won't offend me if you don't like the idea!

Thanks for reading guys. And those that review I appreciate it immensely.