Chapter 4 An Angel's Voice From Nowhere

"They're gone, Troy."

Gabriella and Troy had gotten very close after their sophmore year. They sat down and talked a lot. Gabriella took Troy to the park and sat him down on the bench and blurt out the news.

"They left without telling me?" Troy was obviously going to cry, but he was obviously trying to hide it.

"Troy, they left and Sharpay told me to tell you."

"What about Ryan?"

"They don't know what happened to him."

Troy stood up, "What the heck do you mean by that?"

"He ran away."

"Why?!"

Gabriella shrugged, "She said he left to pursue a career in music."

Troy was still standing. He turned toward the sun. It was nearing sunset. "Just like that?"

Gabriella nodded, even though she knew that Troy wasn't looking at her.

"Gabriella?"

"Yeah, Troy. Just like that."

"Not that."

"What then?"

He turned around, "Why?"

"Do I look like I know the answer to that?" Gabriella felt tears filling her eyes.

"No, sorry." Troy knew it wasn't like him to cry. He sat down next to Gabriella. She laid her head on his shoulder, and they watched the sunset.

"So you guys are into drama?"

Troy decided to eat lunch with the new kids, apparently twins. Ryan looked as if he were to say somethig, but Sharpay said, "Oh yeah totally."

Troy thought he saw Ryan look questioningly at his sister.

"Drama twins, huh?"

Sharpay nodded and flipped her hair back. Ryan quietly sipped his milk.

"Well you guys should check out the drama club. Mrs. Darbus is cooky, but she's a pretty good teacher," Troy almost laughed. Mrs. Darbus was no angel.

"Oh we will, right Ryan?"

Ryan looked up from his milk, "Huh? Oh yeah, sure."

"Great! Thanks, Troy." Sharpay giggled at his name.

"Just wanna make you guys feel welcome. East High is a welcoming place." Troy lied through his teeth. The most welcoming part of this place is the basketball team.

"Ok Troy, we should get going and take a look at the drama club." Sharpay stood up and grabbed Ryan by the ear and dragged him to the hallway.

"What about my milk!?" Troy heard Ryan call.

Twins, Troy thought. Wish I had one...

"Where are you taking me?" Gabriella asked. She was running through the neighborhood her hand stuck to Troy's hand. He was running awfully fast.

"I wanna see proof." he answered.

"Proof of what?"

It was 7:00 in the morning. On a Sunday. Not exactly the best time to be awake.

Troy didn't answer. He just ran faster.

Gabriella struggled to catch up. Troy finally stopped. Gabriella didn't realize, and ran smack into Troy.

"Would you warn a girl?!"

Troy ignored her again. "This is it?"

"What?"

"The Evans' house?"

Gabriella looked at the house. That was it, "Uh, yeah."

"It doesn't look like anyone left it."

"Maybe they left someone here. Like their step dad."

"They have a step dad?"

"Yeah, like, 4 or something."

Troy looked at Gabriella, "Is there a gene to be so smart?"

Gabriella shrugged, "I can go searching for one and give it to you."

Troy laughed, "So, should we ring the bell?"

Gabriella shrugged, "I guess..."

They started up the driveway. But Troy stopped.

"What now, Troy?"

He pointed to the ground, "What's that?"

He leaned down and picked it up. It was a piece of paper.

"...Wow." Troy said reading the note.

Gabriella looked at it, "I...don't believe it."

Troy pointed to wet stains, "Someone was crying."

"Sharpay."

"How do you know these things?"

"The note was for her, Troy. Can you please use your common sense?"

"Go get me some then we'll talk." He tucked the note in his pocket. He went toward the door.

"Troy..."

Troy ignored her for like the third time that day. He rang the bell. Gabriella rushed to him. The door was answered to a tall, muscular man. Gabriella looked over Troy and almost laughed. He had raised his chin so high that his hair was touching his back.

"What 'choo lookin' at?" the man said.

"Nothing..." Troy answered, putting his chin down.

"Well, whaddaya want?"

"We we're just wondering-"

"I ain't buyin' nothin'."

Troy cringed. His breath smelled like rotten fish, "We aren't selling anything, sir. We just wanna know if the Evans' live here."

"I ain't answerin' no questions either. Go away." he almost slammed the door but Troy stopped him.

"Just answer the question and we'll go away."

"Fine. They used to but they don't no more." then he slammed the door shut.

"Well thank you!" Troy screamed into the door. He started down the driveway. Gabriella followed and was about to go down the sidewalk, but noticed that Troy had taken a seat on the curb. Gabriella sighed and sat next to him.

"What now?"

"Who was that?"

Gabriella shrugged, "Stepdad, housekeeper, who cares? Let's go eat."

"That was no housekeeper."

"Okay then, stepdad. Let's go, Troy!"

"What a lousy stepdad."

"Let's go!"

"Okay."

Gabriella followed the sound of an angel's voice. At least, it sounded like an angel. She opened the door to the auditorium. Ryan was sitting alone on the stage, singing to nobody.

"I hope you understand. This is something I have to do..."

"Wow, Ryan. You're really good."

Ryan stopped singing and looked at Gabriella. "Um, thanks."

"Ever consider going professional?"

Ryan shrugged, "That's the plan, with Sharpay."

"You should consider going solo."

"Sharpay would never let me."

"Why not?" Gabriella hopped onto the stage and sat next to Ryan.

"Well, she just can't leave my side I guess. She can't stand singing alone."

Gabriella nodded. She couldn't sing alone. She always needed Troy to sing with her.

"So that song, did you write it?"

Ryan nodded.

"That's amazing."

"Thanks."

There was an awkward silence. Ryan's hand was brushing against Gabriella's. He pulled it away.

"...Well I should get going." Gabriella stood up and headed for the door.

"Yeah me too."

"See ya, Ryan."

He watched her leave the auditorium. Then he started singing again.

"Just gotta let you know, this is for you..."

A/N: I don't know how that Ryella thing got there. I just sort of floated out of me. I'm not much of a Ryella fan, so don't think that Gabriella and Ryan are gonna get together.

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