After Kelsi had managed to remove her gaze from him, Chad asked Taylor to dance and Troy did the same, leaving her as a fifth wheel. The couples swirled across the floor. Taylor was laughing with Chad, her arms wrapped around his neck as they swayed. Troy whispered gently into Gabriella's ear and kissed her on the cheek.
Sighing, Kelsi saw a boy who resembled Jason approaching her with a crooked grin. "No. No, no. Not him again! He already led me on once, I won't let him do it again."
Without giving a second thought, the girl ran towards the music room and didn't stop until she had reached the safety of her piano. Regaining composure, Kelsi positioned herself on the bench and began to play a song she composed that always seemed to calm her down.
Ryan watched the mystery girl exit through one of the side doors and into the school building. Curious, he followed her, quietly walking through the hallways. Just as it seemed she had disappeared, the boy heard a delicate melody and a beautiful voice as clear as glass, coming from the music room. Approaching the door, Ryan stopped just outside and listened.
Kelsi's fingers flew across the keys, not in a panicked way, but in a way that made her forget everything else. Sharpay's endless requests to change the music, her comments about the pianist's hair, glasses, and clothes, the way she ordered everyone around like animals, all disappeared. Kelsi quietly sang the words that she knew so well.
The song faded away as she played the final chords. Suddenly, the pianist heard the door squeak open behind her and whipped around to find the boy with the sparkling blue eyes. They both stared at each other for a moment, but he was the first to speak up.
"I'm so sorry for eavesdropping like that," he apologized quickly, "I heard you playing and I couldn't help but listen. Did you write that yourself?" Kelsi slowly nodded her head, unable to find words. "It was beautiful."
"Thank you," she whispered, a blush rising in her cheeks.
"Do you mind if I join you? I'd love to hear more."
"Sure, there's always room for another music lover. Do you play?"
"Only a bit, and not nearly as well as you. I'm more of a dancer myself."
"You wouldn't happen to know Ryan Evans would you?" Kelsi questioned, trying to sound uninterested, "He's an excellent dancer."
"I do, as a matter of fact," the boy answered, and without warning, removed his mask and threw it to the ground. It was Ryan Evans. Kelsi's face turned white as a sheet once she realized who she had been talking to.
"I…I," the girl stammered, shooting up from the piano bench, "I should go…"
"Please don't!" Ryan begged, taking her hand in his own.
"You haven't got a clue who I am, do you?" Kelsi shook her head, clearly shaken, "If you did, let's just say you wouldn't be begging for me to stay."
"I, well, uh," he stalled, but soon gave up, "No, no I don't know who you are, but I want to know and nothing can change that."
"You'd be surprised," she murmured quietly.
"Please tell me!"
"I'm afraid that's a bit too much to ask, Ryan Evans,"
"Fine, you don't have to tell me who you are if you don't want to. But please, don't leave."
"If it really means that much to you, I'll stay."
"Let's see, what were we talking about before?" Ryan winked, "You had just told me that you thought I was an excellent dancer, as I recall. Do you ever dance?"
"I used to, when I was younger," Kelsi told him shyly, "Every now and then I still do." Ryan stood up and held out his hand to her and she stared at him like he was crazy.
"Well, I think now is as good a time as any," he stated, making a swooping bow "May I have this dance?"
"You're nuts," she giggled, grabbing his hand, "But sure." The two waltzed around the small room in perfect time, taking care not to crash into the numerous music stands. Ryan slowed their pace after a while, turning the lively steps into a gentle sway.
"I do have some questions though," he asked.
"Fire away," Kelsi agreed, "But I don't have to answer all of them."
"I'll take what I can get," Ryan sighed, "First question, what do want more than anything else in the world?
"Easy, I want to go to Julliard and be a composer on Broadway."
"That's where I want to be too! Except, I want to be a famous choreographer."
"I thought you would want to be an actor, a star. Like your sister."
"Just because she treats me like her pet poodle, doesn't mean I am. I want to do my own thing!" The sudden outburst caused Kelsi to jump back slightly in shock.
"I'm sorry. I just, I mean, I shouldn't have judged you that way."
"I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have gotten so defensive." he sighed, "I guess that's what everyone thinks. I always go along with what Shar tells me, so what else is anyone going to think?"
"It's okay," Kelsi trailed off.
"Have we ever met at all?" Ryan asked abruptly.
"Yes. We've never talked much, but we see each other is passing a lot."
"I must have been delirious every time we passed then. I would have had to be crazy not to notice you."
"I'm pretty good at being invisible, I've had plenty of practice."
"I, don't know how to say this, I know that we only just formally met," he continued, "But, I've never felt this way about anyone."
"Neither have I," she breathed.
"I understand if you still don't want to tell me who you are, but can I at least have your phone number? I don't want to completely lose you after tonight."
"Fair enough," Kelsi took a pen from one of the music stands and carefully wrote her number on the palm of his hand.
"One last question," he murmured in her ear, "Were you disappointed when you found out who I was?"
"Surprisingly," she answered nervously, "No, I wasn't. I, I've actually liked you for a really long time, I just, haven't had the courage to speak up."
"You shouldn't have been afraid," Ryan whispered, gently caressing her cheek, "I've been looking for someone like you for a long time. Someone who's down to earth, funny, sweet, and passionate about what they love. The fact that you're beautiful is just icing on the cake"
Without a second thought, he tilted her chin towards his and leaned in towards her. Their lips met and Ryan felt a sensation that was indescribable. The two kissed, sparks flew between them and Kelsi's heart leaped inside her chest. Finally, they pulled away and simply looked at each other. Then slowly, Ryan's fingers gently inched towards her face, looking to lift the mask. She seemed willing, and just as he was about to unmask her, there was a voice over the intercom.
"Attention students" came Ms. Darbus' voice over the speaker, "It is now five minutes to midnight."
Kelsi pushed away with a look of alarm in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry," she stammered, "I, I have to go, now."
"What is it?" Ryan asked, "Are you late for something?"
"Reality," the girl replied sadly. With a last glance at Ryan from the doorway, she ran. He followed, desperate to find her again.
