Chapter One

Ryan Evans stared endlessly at the grand piano in the music room. Grabbing the guitar placed beside him, he began to strum a few notes humming a forlorn melody. Ryan tried with all his heart and lungs to sing but he couldn't even speak. His voice cracked at ever sound he made involving his mouth to open. Finally, he gave up and went along humming the soft, meaningful melody.

Meanwhile, Gabriella Montez was walking past the cafeteria pondering to herself on where everyone had disappeared to. The school's hallways were filled with students who were heading to their free periods but no one she really knew, she was looking for her friends. She turned a corner leading to the gym when suddenly a bulk figure ran into her making her crash to the ground, shrieking on the way down.

"I'm so sorry, Gabriella!" Troy Bolton, her boyfriend, yelled in shock as he helped her to her feet. "Gabi, do you know what happened to Kelsi? I've been hearing rumors since she's not here today, but I don't believe them." Troy asked as he watched Gabriella fix her skirt.

"I was actually wondering the same thing. Maybe Ryan or Sharpay would know? Or Chad? Someone has to know the truth." Troy nodded his head in agreement.

"You know, I heard Ryan doing something in the music room. I'll go talk to him. You want to come?" Nodding her head Gabriella followed the basketball player like a lost puppy. She sighed as they made their way towards the music room. Coming closer to the wooden door Gabriella could hear the faint sound of peaceful strumming upon a guitar. Troy opened the door and allowed Gabriella to walk in the room filled with melodious harmony. He took a seat in front of the boy in a peach colored hat and matching button up shirt and let Gabriella sit on his lap. The couple waited for the boy to finishing playing on his own time.

Ryan glanced up and looked surprised but didn't say a word. He gave a nod of reassurance and went back to playing his acoustic guitar with his slim, ashen fingers. Ryan continued to play as if no one was there pouring his heart into his fingers. He quit humming, trying so hard to sing his voice cracked leaving the words go the tune of the song spoke for itself.

Troy watched with bewilderment as the boy in front of him was so consumed in playing, it was as if no one else was present in the room. Ryan was one with his guitar and no one was going to be able to make him quit. Gabriella sat in Troy's lap with her eyes closed, swaying side to side ignoring the world that was outside of the room. She was listening to the music, being one with it. The tune was speaking to her, as if it could talk, it was coming from the soul.

Ryan halted and glanced up at the couple in the chair directly in front of him. Tears were streaming down his warm, blood red cheeks as he stared at Gabriella and Troy with lost eyes.

"Hey." He muttered so softly that he could barely hear himself. He placed his guitar in the stand beside him and gazed at them but it seemed as if he was looking straight through them.

Gabriella had not noticed the boy was crying as he played the song, fighting back her own tears she gave a nod.

"Hey Ryan, is something the matter?" Troy asked the scrawny boy, noticing the sorrow that was placed on his face.

"Kels…" Ryan was not able to speak at all. No matter how hard he tried that day, he was not able to talk.

"It's alright man. You don't have to say anything at all. Gabriella and I both are here for you. You can tell us anything. We don't know what happened…but we are here for you no matter what." Gabriella nodded as to approve of what Troy had said. She turned away from her friends and wiped away the tears that had appeared in her eyes. She lightly sniffed so they would not hear her.

Ryan quickly jumped out of his chair and walked over to the only window in the room. He slammed his fist against it and screamed out a shrill which would make dogs howl. Gabriella watched the boy in horror then walked over to his side and let out a sigh.

"Did you love her?" Troy stood and walked to a corner in the back of the room staring at the two speechless. He did not understand what was happening. He never saw Ryan in his life look so raged and petrified.

Ryan leaned on the window with his hands and watched the students below outside walk around as if everything in the world was perfect.

"Yes…" He answered Gabriella in a low tone, his voice cracking. She wrapped her arms around the boy and hugged him close to her.

"I'm sorry." She said softly letting a light mist run down her cheek onto his shoulder. Ryan swiftly pushed the girl away and shook his head no.

"That's the last thing I want." He slammed the window again with his fist making the window rattle; Gabriella jumped back a few inches. Leaning his head against the window Ryan began to sob piercingly.

"What don't you want, Ryan? Someone being close to you or pity?" Gabriella wiped away the tears the began to run down her cheeks vigorously. "You know Ryan, Kelsi was my friend as well." Ryan turned from the window and let his body slide against the window and wall to the floor. He sat with his knees close to him and wiped his tears.

"I don't want pity…I just can't take it." He answered looking up at the dark brown, natural crimped haired girl.

"Ryan I am so sorry. If there is anything…anything in the world that I could do for you, just name it." Troy finally spoke finding his courage. He began to walk over to the two and sat down by the young looking man. Gabriella stared out the window up at the sky into the heavens. "I bet you that everyone feels bad for treating her the way they did now. If she knew we were here for her…"

"Do…do you guys…know what happened?" Ryan asked gazing down at the floor.

"…we were her friends!" Gabriella screamed not even hearing what Ryan had said. She was off in her own world thinking of the playmaker.

"No." Troy said placing a palm on Ryan's shoulder. "We don't. If you don't mind telling us, we'd like to hear." Ryan gave a nod.

"Her mother called Sharpay…" He started. "She thought they were best friends for some reason…but I had picked up the phone. Shar told me she didn't want to talk. So, I took a message…" He looked up at Gabriella and over at Troy. Troy looked down at Ryan, even sitting down he was two inches taller than the petite teen. Gabriella glanced down at Ryan and then back out the window at the sky.

Suddenly, Ryan jumped backwards hitting his head off the window sill, his phone was vibrating in his pocket. Taking it out he flipped it open. He read the text message and stated, "Sharpay, wants me…fuck her." He muttered the last words under his breath harshly. Gabriella and Troy both looked startled at the sweet boy, but said nothing. He threw his phone across the room, hitting the wall it broke into a million pieces. "Kelsi's mom…said she found Kelsi…in her closet…" Gabriella shudder, suddenly feeling sick to her stomach. Troy had guessed the last words the boy was about to say and wrapped him into a hug. "She found her in the closet…hanging." Gabriella fell to the ground and held herself into a hug and began to cry.