Ryan Evans didn't know what to do with the aching silence that filled his car. He just knew that he didn't like it. If it had been Sharpay riding with him to Troy's funeral - instead of Kelsi - her wailing would have been his constant companion. Instead he had Kelsi's silence, save for the occasional sniffle that meant that she was, in fact, crying.
"Are you okay?" Ryan asked, caring yet awkward at the same time.
His sister crying hysterically was one thing, but Kelsi's soft grieving while trying to keep it together was something different entirely. Though they had bonded and contrived over a joint love of music and the stage, he wasn't sure what to do with her now.
Kelsi nodded rapidly, self-consciously wiping away her tears. Apparently she had forgotten that he was with her. Or maybe she had just let herself dwell that much on her grief, Ryan reasoned.
"Okay." Ryan let her get away with her obvious lie and forced his thoughts away from the girl at his side.
A minute later, he was surprised when Kelsi's tears became louder and harder, and she choked out, "No."
Ryan looked at her in concern and pulled the car over as the composer riding in the shotgun seat of his car burst out, "No! I am not okay! Troy - one of our best friends, one of the greatest guys on the planet - is dead! And all because some other guy had one too many beers! So, no, I am most definitely not okay!"
Ryan blinked in surprise at her outburst and felt tears forming in the corners of his eyes. He hesitated for only a second before leaning across the console and gently squeezing her clenched hands. Kelsi bit her lip and unclenched her hands, squeezing in return.
"I know." Ryan said gently.
That started another wave of tears from the quiet brunette. Not letting himself think about it too much, Ryan unbuckled, and then unbuckled Kelsi before pulling the poor girl onto his lap. She buried her head in his shoulder and just started sobbing.
"Shhhhh." Ryan whispered near her ear. "I know it hurts, I know."
All at once, Troy's rather corny entry in Ryan's yearbook flashed across his mind. Set free of his master, a poodle can get what he wants as easily as a rottweiler can. Had Troy guessed what Ryan had wanted, or more specifically who Ryan had wanted? If so - if this was what it took to get him the girl - Troy had committed some wing-man act. Even so - even though he was finally holding the girl of his dreams - under the circumstances, he couldn't even enjoy it.
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