The party is dying, with most of the kids already gone, when Chad lets his self-control slip and gives you confirmation of his crush. You have been keeping a close yet discrete eye on him, noticing that, after the first hour, he stopped trying to talk to anybody outside of those you are familiar with: Troy, Jason, their girlfriends, Zeke and Taylor. You already knew these theater kids were not a regular part of your son's life, so it was inevitably that the Evans twins, co-presidents of the Drama Club, end being the party's heart and soul.

Now that the buzz has calmed down the pair is quietly chatting in a corner, and Chad's gaze keeps returning to them. All of your son's friends are busy chatting too, so they do not notice how his attention wanders now and then; neither do they notice the reason of it. You look at the twins as well, wondering if you should send everybody home, because the blond boy looks ready to collapse and sleep for twenty-four hours straight.

You smile, remembering how hyper he acted during the evening and how he seemed to be everywhere, making you questioningly eye at the drinks a couple times. But as a few sips confirmed no alcohol was involved, your guess is that either Ryan suffers from a mild yet amusing form of ADD, or that he is always this naturally high after being on stage. You actually are putting your money in the last one, as he looks positively worn-down now that the party is almost over. He's almost sprawled in the couch, his eyes closed and a lazy smile dancing on his face while he quietly talks to his sister. Sharpay, on the other hand, looks as perfect as she did at the beginning. But then, she was not the one jumping up and down for hours.

It is then when Sharpay's attention abandons her brother, and for a second you think she has seen you, yet it is in your son where her gaze lands. He looks definitively terrified when their eyes lock. You are most interested in her reaction, thought. Her wry grin makes your heart falter. No matter what Ryan says, you still do not trust her, and seeing her about to make fun of your son definitely does not help. But before you have the chance to jump and break her neck, Ryan moves. His eyes are now open, and his words are too low for you to hear, but somehow you know what he's saying. What you are looking at, he asks to his sister - but before he ever has the chance to see for himself, she stops him by placing a hand on each cheek, making him focus on her instead.

Ryan is surprised, you can say, but then he rolls his eyes at something she says. He pouts, she pouts back, and they definitely do not look like two high school seniors anymore. But he finally surrenders and gets up with a groan, his movements an odd mix of grace and stiffness that announces he has had enough for the night. Yet still there he is, going to the refreshments' table, obviously with the intention to get whatever Sharpay ordered him to. The girl's eyes follow him for a moment before returning to where Chad was sitting. But you know she'll not find him here, as your son fled to the second floor as if his clothes were in fire, just a moment ago.

She rolls her eyes and scans the room, then looks again at her brother. You can see she has reached a decision and yes, she gets up and announces with a voice that makes clear nobody should dare contradict her, we are leaving. And by we she means everybody in this party. You allow her get it her way this time because it is obvious Chad will not be returning. So before you figure out what's going on, the remaining kids are straightening your living room, something that never happens when the sport teams are around. Either this theater troupe is naturally more organized, or Sharpay has them well trained.

You suspect the second one, if only because Ryan is smiling gratefully at her. It makes you realize the Evans will not leave until the place looks somewhat presentable. It is slightly unnerving that these rotten rich kids care about how your middle-class house looks like, but you think that probably their lives are all about appearances, so it makes sense in a trippy way. So you say nothing, because there's nothing to say, and instead smile while the kids minus Sharpay clean, and smile when they say goodbye. Ryan is the only one who gets an honest smile from you, even if it is a sad one. You feel sorry for such a nice boy having to live with the sibling god gave him.