Chapter 5 So Lonely Before

Ryan sighed. He couldn't keep going. His car was running low on gas, and he was getting hungry. The sun was about to be fully in the sky. He peeked at the clock. 10 AM. He noticed a small motel. It was far from the city, but he had to stop. He pulled into the parking lot and got out of the car. He streched his tired legs. He really felt like dancing. But not now.

Ryan went inside and got a room. He got all his stuff out of his car and put it in his room. The room smelled new and clean. He hopped onto the bed and sighed. "It's morning, Ryan. You can't go to sleep." he said to himself.

His voice echoed through the room. Ryan sat up. What now? He was here, but why? He got off the bed and started dancing. He found his toothbrush and used it as a microphone. Then he stopped himself. All of a sudden it felt so stupid. He put away his toothbrush and turned on the TV. There was nothing on. He looked at the ceiling. Why did I do this? It's totally and completely pointless to be here. You could've stayed with Mom and Sharpay. Sharpay. What was she doing? He wanted to call her, but he couldn't stand her asking him to come back. Okay, Ryan. If you won't go back, then do something with your life. You're here. Where do you want to go?

"Hey Ryan, did you finish your essay?"

Sharpay and Ryan took a creative writing class. Ryan found it pointless. But they had to choose 2 electives. One was drama. All the other electives were full.

"Yeah, it's done." he handed his clean typed paper to Sharpay. She read it over.

"That's really good. 'My dream is to be a famous singer.'"

"Thanks."

"So, um, Ryan. Where am I in this essay?"

"What? Oh, you're not in it."

"Um, why not?" she laughed. "We're a team remember?"

"Well, you know, I wanna try to be solo."

"Okay, whatever."

She headed for her locker, but Ryan stopped her.

"What do you mean?"

"Ryan, you're nothing without me."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She laughed, "You wouldn't last 2 minutes on a stage alone."

She smiled, "It's the truth, Ryan. Face it."

She strutted to her locker leaving Ryan with his essay.

"Yeah we'll see."

Ryan opened his eyes. He had fallen asleep. Looks like I'm in the wrong place. He put his stuff in his bag and headed for the check out. The lady looked at him and looked shocked, "Didn't you just check in?" she said through gum chews

Ryan nodded.

"And you wanna check out, now?"

Ryan nodded again.

"Okay whatever." she blew a blew a bubble and it made an annoying popping sound.

Ryan gave her the key and headed for the car. There was a gas station and he stopped for gas. People stared at him as he filled it up. What's a kid like him doing in this part of town? was the expression on their face. He ignore their faces and finished filling his car. He got back on the road and started his way to L.A.

"Gabriella!"

Gabriella turned around. Ryan was running up to her.

"Hey, Ryan."

"Hey remember that song I was singing in the auditorium the other day?"

She nodded.

"Well, I wrote out the lyrics if you want to see it."

"Oh cool."

Ryan fished through his pocket. He pulled out a piece of paper.

"Here," he said, handing the paper to her.

She read it over. "Wow, this is, really nice."

"I'm working on the music now."

Gabriella smiled, "You have some talent, Ryan."

Ryan shrugged, "Thanks."

"So, um, why are you giving this to me?"

"I'm just giving it out to some friends. They say I should right a rap song. But, I really like writing ballads."

"Well, you're really good at writing ballads. Keep at it Ryan."

"I will. Well see ya later, Gabriella."

"See ya." Ryan walked off. As he left, he heard Gabriella humming the tune to his song.

"What if every teenager in the world hummed this song?" he laughed.

Like how would that be possible?

Ryan drove until he reaced L.A. When he got there, he saw a music store. It wouldn't hurt to go in. He parked and went inside. It was a small music store. It was also a quiet music store. He looked around for a piano. There was only one. He sat down on the bench. Nice piano. It looked like it was rarely ever played on. He played a scale. It was in tune too. He started to play.

"It's hard to believe, that I couldn't see. That you were always there beside me..."

"Very nice."

Ryan turned around so fast he fell off the bench.

"Oh my gosh are you ok?"

Ryan looked up. There was a blonde girl about his age looking down at him.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine..."

She held out her hand. He grabbed it and pulled himself up.

"Thanks."

They we're still holding hands.

"Um, I'm, Sydney."

"Ryan."

They shook their hands.

"So, um, Ryan, where are you from?"

Ryan released his hand, "Albequerque."

"And what brings you here?"

Ryan shrugged, "I don't even know anymore."

"Maybe I can remind you?"

Ryan laughed, "Sure. Let's start with this piano."

He took a seat. Sydney sat next to him.

"Any requests?"

"The song you were playing earlier."

"Okay sure."

He played the familiar notes.

"It's hard to believe, that I couldn't see. You were always there beside me. Thought I was alone, with no one to hold. But you were always there beside me."

Sydney swayed to the music.

"This feeling's like no other, I want you to know..."

"SYDNEY!"

Ryan stopped playing.

"Oh, sorry Ryan. I have to get back to work."

No, dont go.

"Perfectly fine. Can I stay here?"

"Sure. Just keep playing..."

"I will."

Sydney blushed, and went to the back of the store.

"I've never had someone who knows me like you do. The way you do. I've never had someone as good for me as you, no one like you."

Sydney came out and put a box near the piano. She stared at Ryan's hands flying over the piano.

"So lonely before, I finally found, what I've been looking for."

A/N: While I wrote the scene where Ryan was dancing, Dance Dance by Fall Out Boy started playing on my iPod. And when I wrote the part where he starts playing piano, What I've Been Looking For started playing. I found it interesting.

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