It occurs to you that, as you did before, Chad would want to use the occasion to milk any Sharpay-related information out of Ryan, and you can't stop it from happening because your stupid boss decided you had to stay late at work every Wednesday. Thus, you do the next best thing, and inform your daughter she will not be going to her ballet lessons today. She's still a little sick, you explain to Chad; and really, she is. He agrees that it is his duty as an older brother to look after her while you are not at home, and that it would not be a good idea if she were to blame for starting a minor flu epidemic at the dance studio.

You know your plan worked just right as soon as you return home. Your daughter's laughter can be heard, clear and crystalline, ricocheting from the dining room. And yes, you find she has Ryan's undivided attention, while all Chad can do is to look at them with an amused yet slightly weary smile - but he cheers up as soon as your presence is noticed, and orders Charlotte to please go with mom and leave us work. Ryan chuckles when your daughter cheekily declares she is not leaving, and could he please, please, please tell her another story?

You are actually surprised when Chad shrugs and follows you to the kitchen. He had never done it before, to willingly help you with dinner when his friends are visiting, and his silence weights heavily between the two of you. But it doesn't last long, as Ryan's storytelling and Charlotte's giggles make great background noise, and you find your chuckles quietly echoing Chad's own. You even share a quick smile with him, after he shakes his head and mumbles silly boy at some particularly amusing part of his friend's tale.

Is this thought, the tone used on those two words, what makes you pause and realize that Ryan truly is your son's friend. Not a stepping stone, not part of a plot - not anymore, at least. Maybe he was Chad's link to Sharpay in the beginning, but your boy's smile allows you to see there is honest friendship now. And, even if you have not great faith in your son's romantic choices, you refuse to believe Chad would willingly use a friend for his own sake. So, either he has no plans to pursue the blonde via her twin brother anymore. Or, you darkly realize, Ryan knows about Chad's infatuation and has no problem with it.

The potato salad is not as clumpy as Chad prefers -you've mashed it too much for too long- but he takes generous spoons of it without complain. You think he might have dropped a concerned glance in your direction now and then, but every time you look at him he's smiling. He's inclemently teasing his sister's favorite songs and movies, yet Charlotte's grin tell you there's no need to interfere; she has a most fierce protector in Ryan, and the three of them seem to be enjoying themselves, so you silently witness their quarrel.

Their attention firmly glued on each other, they can't see your smile. Neither can you, actually, but you know it is bittersweet. Why couldn't Sharpay be a little more like her brother? They share the same background, after all: parents, richness, school history, personal experiences. You wouldn't have a problem if your son had a wealthy white girlfriend, were she to be as nice and kind as Ryan. Or a poor Hispanic one, or a middle class Asian; you really don't care about petty things like money, or skin color, or-

It takes a moment to register the silence, and other to notice three pairs of eyes have you pinned down. Thankfully, your phone rings, and even if you've been telling Joanne all week you have no intention to go bar-hunting with her, this time you accept. Chad declares there's not a problem; in fact, he orders you to go to your room now and get 'pimped out'. You comply, not because your recently divorced best friend lives only ten minutes from your place, but to run from the mess you've created in the table - and in your head.