The Playmaker's Naked Truth

Chapter II

The Reunion

Kelsi Nielsen had indeed transformed.

She was no longer the girl who was scared of Sharpay during highschool. She was no longer quiet and shy. Kelsi Nielsen had become confident and famous.

Ever since her Julliard scholarship, Kelsi was honed to become one of the most famous pianists in the world and she worked hard to earn that title. Unfortunately, cancer took away the years to come in her life and she was left, dying.

Bitterness filled her and she wanted nothing more than to spread it, like the cancer spreading in her body. She couldn't help but feel jealous over the lives her so-called friends led. And she knew just how to break them.

She invited them all to the weekend in her mansion so that they could all pay a price. Kelsi Nielsen was too bitter to think twice of the course of action she was about to take. She couldn't care less; she was going to die anyway!

Kelsi smirked as she thought of each and everyone of the 6 persons she invited. She imagined Troy and Sharpay's shocked faces when she reveals their affair to Gabriella. The Latina too would be as shocked as hell when she finds out that Kelsi also knew about her little crime; Priscilla was a very close friend of hers.

Ryan would go mad if the press found out about his little property affair and Chad and Taylor might leave earth with her when Ted Pringle finds out where they live. Oh, revenge is a dish best served cold!

They would be left broken – like she was and she reveled in that thought. She just couldn't take the fact that she would leave earth with the knowledge that they all lead lives that they try to portray as happy.

It was all a mask and she wanted to reveal them to the world! The naked truth; the Playmaker's Naked Truth. She wrote a book on her six friends and smiled. What a good way to break them; put their lives in black and white. She laughed an evil laugh as she thought of the manuscript hidden safely.

She would give them a hint about it during dinner to ruin the mood. She wanted to see the looks on their faces and watch them try to deal with this problem. She laughed again and drank her vodka as she worked on Nielsen Requiem, her last piece before she kicks the bucket. Unlike Mozart, she wanted it finished.

The butler knocked on the door of the music room and told Kelsi that the first guest arrived and are waiting in the hall. Kelsi smiled and stood up; show time…

~***~

Ryan Evans stood in awe of the place. He thought that Kelsi would be living in a simple home or even a mansion but he did not expect to enter a driveway of a sprawling estate! Surely, she must've been that good to be able to afford something like this.

He remembered his childhood home in Albuquerque. It was an estate just like this and he wondered which one was bigger. Ryan remembered his father's words, which his sister incorporated: bigger is better.

He stood there in the middle of an ornate entrance hall staring up at the dome ceiling that was adorned with frescoes. He looked around starting from the door where he came in. Two huge oak doors stood at each end of the room flanked by bronze statues. The room was lighted by a huge chandelier hanging from the dome ceiling and kept warm by a huge marble fireplace. The room was all gold and the satin curtains hung by the windows. The wooden parquet floor was covered with an oriental rug and a round table in the middle of the room.

Paintings adorned the wall across the fireplace as well as a chaise lounge and armchairs. Ryan was really in awe! He never could believe that Kelsi would be this meticulous in designing a home; as meticulous as she was on the piano. He loved the Victorian theme and wanted to explore the estate. If she tastefully designed this room, he wanted to see all the rooms! But before Ryan could sneak out and explore, the oak doors opened and Kelsi walked in to meet him.

She was gorgeous! Gone were the glasses and her shy expression. Here was a woman who wielded power with her music and she walked like it. Ryan gaped as the brunette in blue approached him. He saw a goddess and nearly fell on his knees in reverence.

"Kelsi! My, my, my, how are you?!" he gushed in a baritone and was pleased when she blushed.

"Same 'old, same 'old!" she replied with a laugh and kissed her former flame's cheek.

"You look delectable – I mean gorgeous!" Ryan was aghast with himself. Kelsi laughed.

"I can say the same thing about you, Mr. Evans." Kelsi cooed looking into his eyes. For a moment the two kind of rekindled an old flame before the doorbell chimed signaling the arrival of another guest.

Armando the butler rushed to the door and behind the oak, a blonde appeared. She strode towards Kelsi, who surprisingly did not back away but moved forward and hugged her. Sharpay was taken aback; first by the house (who knew she was this rich?) then by Kelsi herself (the woman finally had guts!).

"Sharpay, how are you?" Kelsi asked her guest.

"Fabulous!" Sharpay replied and smiled as Kelsi did the same. Then Sharpay rushed over to her brother and hugged him as he kissed her cheek.

"Ry, I missed you!" she cried with a little pout and her brother chuckled.

"Same goes for me, sis." Ryan replied and put his hand on his sister's shoulder.

"Ry, you're getting wrinkles and frown lines…" Sharpay said while inspecting her brother's face.

"Comes with the job…" he replied nonchalantly and followed Kelsi who was ushering them into another room.

Sharpay's jaw nearly hit the floor when she and Ryan entered Kelsi's lounge. It was all blue and gold, reminiscent of summer with a cozy touch to it. Sharpay looked around the tastefully designed room, from the royal blue couches and armchair to the decorations around the room.

Never before had she seen another house tastefully decorated like this except her own and Ryan's back in Albuquerque where her parents are currently residing after retirement. She was mesmerized with the room until Ryan patiently led her back to a seat next to him and handed her a drink Kelsi mixed from the mini bar. The three talked about college when Armando announced the arrival of yet another guest.

~***~

Troy arrived with Gabriella and they were giving each other the silent treatment. Both nearly crashed on a tree arguing where Kelsi's house was. Troy insisted that the huge estate was the house while Gabriella could not believe her old friend could live in a place that huge and insisted they got the wrong address.

The butler led them to the lounge where the couple was met by Kelsi and the Evans twins. Troy exercised all his self control the moment he saw Sharpay and almost lost it when he saw her eyes cloud with passion as she saw him.

When their host asked them to sit, he tried to strategize his position so he could not be close to Sharpay and have someone obstruct his view of her before he lost it. Sharpay though didn't seem to mind Troy, but then again, she was acting her best. She couldn't wait to get him alone.

Kelsi could sense the tension between the two and smiled inwardly. This was interesting, she made a mental note to make sure to give them some alone time – to her advantage of course. The five of them continued to talk about highschool and college.

It was fun and Kelsi nearly abandoned her plan for revenge when Ryan brought up her illness. Then everyone looked at her with concern in their eyes and a hint of surprise when her demeanor changed.

"Kels, you really don't believe that a countdown in your life has started, do you?" asked Ryan.

"I'd rather not delude myself." Kelsi said in a cold voice and Ryan looked hurt.

"Just trying to be optimistic…" he muttered. Kelsi bristled at the comment.

"I'd rather face reality if I were you…" she spat and this made Sharpay bristle in turn.

"He's just concerned, is that so bad?" she asked with a hint of a snarl though she looked calm.

"Well, I didn't invite any you here to speak of my upcoming demise." Kelsi said coldly.

"A simple 'I don't want to talk about it' would have made that understandable." Sharpay spat.

"Well I'm sorry about the miscommunication – and your brother's inability at etiquette."

At this Sharpay opened her mouth for a good come back when Ryan cleared his throat loudly.

"I got the point." Ryan said curtly and Sharpay held his hand to comfort him. Kelsi looked like she didn't care and silence hung around the room

"So…Kels, mind playing us something?" Troy asked after a few minutes. Kelsi looked at him and smiled as she stood up and ushered Troy and Gabriella into the music room with her. When they were gone, Ryan glanced at his sister and hugged her.

"What was that for?" Sharpay asked when he broke away.

"For defending me." Ryan answered teary-eyed yet smiling.

"You didn't deserve that…" she told him and kissed his cheek.

"I was shocked you know, at her outburst. She's changed a lot…" he muttered and Sharpay nodded.

"Speaking about changes, what's happening with the company?" Ryan frowned at the question. He knew she was bound to ask and he decided to tell the truth.

"I'm encountering problems with a few people." Ryan confessed.

"How come?" his sister asked and Ryan told her the tale. Sharpay seemed shocked.

"How could he?! That's why London seemed to be scared of me…" she muttered.

"Really?" Ryan asked bemused.

"Yeah, she thought I was mad…" she replied making her brother chuckle darkly.

"She should be…" said. Sharpay raised an eyebrow.

"Should be what?" she asked with an edge to her tone.

"Scared of you." Ryan pointed out and Sharpay frowned at him.

"That's not right Ry. Her father should be." Sharpay corrected.

"Oh yeah…" her brother said.

Just then the doorbell rang and after a while, Armando led Chad and Taylor Danforth into the lounge. Seeing that his employer was not around, he frowned and turned to go when Sharpay called out to him where Kelsi was.

"She's in the music room!" and with that, the butler shot her a grateful smile.

~***~

"You are the music in me…"

Kelsi played the last note when Armando came into the music room. The old man looked quite flushed as he told his employer that the remainder of her guest arrived. Kelsi nodded her approval and ushered Troy and Gabriella back into the lounge.

When Troy and Chad met, Troy paled and gaped at his old friend. Chad shot him and apologetic look and smiled. Troy was still rooted on the spot. Taylor decided to break the silence.

"Troy, I know you believed as everybody that –"she began but Troy raised a hand to stop her.

"What happened to you man?" he asked looking straight into Chad's eyes.

"I'm sorry Hoops, I-"he tried to explain but Troy cut him off.

"What's with the preacher's collar?" he asked and Chad looked even more apologetic.

"Long story Hoops…" Chad said sadly and Troy looked disappointed and angry.

"You disappeared! Suddenly you vanished and everybody was looking for you – even Ted Pringle, he wanted to apologize!" at this Chad's lip trembled and Taylor took his arm.

"Look man, I know you demand an explanation – later." Chad said and Troy reluctantly nodded.

Kelsi watched the outburst with amusement. So far, so good, everybody seemed to be aware that each is keeping their own dirty little secret, although quite subconsciously. Later, when she drops the bombshell, everybody would be looking over their backs and she would be having her revenge. Armando entered the lounge and announced dinner and everybody followed him to the dining room suddenly more aware of the estate and the smell wafting through the dining room as the butler led them down a long corridor adorned with paintings and a never-ending plush plum carpet.

~***~

Dinner was quite subdued in the grand dining hall in Kelsi Nielsen's estate. Its green patterned walls were reverberating with the sound of the silverware clicking and the glasses chinking as her six guests sat themselves around her huge mahogany table and started eating the scrumptious meal prepared by her personally hired chef.

Troy didn't talk to Chad even if he's friend was trying to start small talk and Gabriella wasn't speaking to Troy. Sharpay and Ryan were discussing things in hushed voices and Taylor was having small talk with Kelsi.

After dinner, their host toured them around her big home per request of the guests. Kelsi insisted that they start back from the hall and move clockwise passing the lounge then the dining room and stopped by the kitchen.

Everybody looked around the kitchen in awe. The pots and pans hanging were copper and the stove and sink were all old-fashioned but functioning like a modern one – as Kelsi explained. The floor was tiled black and white and the windows were diamond glass panes. She wanted to incorporate the Victorian theme and had them designed as thus.

Then they followed her to a mini-spa at the very end of the mansion. Sharpay looked around in awe; she wanted to try it out! Kelsi giggled and told her that maybe later in the evening, she could have a go.

After that they reached the music room which seemed to be Kelsi's most favorite room. There were two grand pianos in the middle and a small table in the corner filled with spreadsheets. There was also a row of shelves filled with piano books and spreadsheets. The place was soundproof too so that she could clearly hear what she's playing. In the end of the room is another huge marble fireplace with a huge portrait of Kelsi on the wall above was wearing a red dress and was posed sitting on the piano stool, her fingers lightly on top of the piano and her expression was a dreamy one, as if contemplating on what to play next. Ryan was swept away with the photo. Kelsi looked just like that when inspired, especially when they lived together, if only briefly.

The group then followed her to her home theater which looked like a cinema from the huge screen at the end of the wall to the plush chairs that were elevated a level higher upon each row. There was also a mini-bar loaded with popcorn, hotdogs and soda – all ready to enter the stomachs of viewers. The place was also soundproof, Kelsi explained.

The next room was a library. Gabriella was impressed! She felt like letting everyone go ahead and stay in this particular room. It was cozy and invited scholarly types of people to come in and take the load off. But Gabriella reluctantly followed the tour group.

At last Kelsi took them to the last room on the first floor of her estate which was her study. The six entered and took a seat on the small conference table as Armando appeared with refreshments.

"I have an announcement to make." Kelsi began with a huge smile and everyone looked at her.

"I've decided to write a book that would reflect what I feel before I leave this earth. It's entitled The Playmaker's Naked Truth. It's my autobiography narrating how I got to be on top and how you guys are involved in making it all come true." She paused as her audience smiled, pleased they could have such an effect on her life. She nearly doubled over in laughter that was threatening to escape her lips.

"It contains all of our exploits – then and now and I have yet to finish the last chapter but hopefully, by the end of the weekend, I would be able to send the manuscript to the editor." Kelsi finished and everyone had confused looks on their faces except Gabriella.

"How dare you write about our private lives!" she spat and the truth hit everyone.

"You wrote about our private lives?" Ryan asked in shock as his sister seethed. Chad whimpered and Taylor glowered at her so-called friend. Troy stared blankly into space and Kelsi watched the ruckus with delight.

"Why?" Ryan asked loudly and everybody stared at Kelsi.

"I am an embittered old maid and I die without fully appreciating my life! If you were all my friends, you'd share my pain." Kelsi answered him simply and everybody glowered at her.

"I'm going home, come on Tay." Chad told his wife and the two moved to go as Kelsi called out,

"You can all go if you wish, but then I'd publish the book." The two came back.

"So, how exactly do you want us to share your bitterness?" Troy asked with a frown.

"Simple Troy, you all stay here with me…" she said.

"After staying with you, what happens?" Sharpay asked, her eyes narrowing.

"You all can go home and I die peacefully without publishing the book." Kelsi answered smiling. Everybody was skeptical yet Kelsi brushed them all off and went to her music room.

The guests were left alone for the first time and each could not bear the others presence and set off in different directions. Chad and Taylor went up to their room and Gabriella left Troy to go to the library. Ryan went to the kitchen for a drink which left Troy and Sharpay alone in the study.

After making sure everyone has gone, he quickly strode over to Sharpay and kissed her with a fiery passion mixed with longing. She kissed him back with equal fervor and soon the two were having a heated make out session on the conference table. Suddenly Sharpay pulled away and looked at Troy.

"If, by exploits, Kelsi meant our affair-this is trouble." Sharpay whispered to Troy. He nodded and sat down as Sharpay sat on his lap and entwined her arms around his neck.

"What do you think we should do?" he asked her while giving her small kisses on her neck.

"I don't know, murder her?" Sharpay muttered under her breath but Troy heard her.

"Shit, are you serious? I was kind of admitting the same thing." Troy confessed.

"I'm queasy about this Troy, but now, it seems like the only right thing to do…" said Sharpay. She stood up and went around the room when her eyes caught a small dagger in the partially opened desk drawer. She grabbed it and hid it in her pocket; Kelsi Nielsen had no right to turn Sharpay Evans' life upside down!

Troy watched her fume silently and as she grabbed the dagger, he knew what she was capable of. She looked at him and told him she'll go and talk to Ryan. Troy nodded and watched her go, then he went to talk with Gabriella.

The first chapter is done!

And everybody has started to become capable of murder; but when you have something to lose - wouldn't you too?
Please send me your reviews! :)

*I've changed the heading from Chapter I to Chapter II..