Once again, thank you for all your wonderful reviews! I'm glad so many people like this story, as it is the first time I've taken a serious approach to a story. This closely relates to real life situations, and (as some of you know) I am a hopeless romantic and extremely cliché, so writing something like this is new for me, and I thank you for joining me on my ride.
Before Happily Ever After
Chapter 3: Returning
"So what do you think Sean? Too long?" Sharpay Evans twirled around in a knee length, pink dress, the silky material floating around her petite body. Twenty-two year old Sharpay Evans was Gabriella's other best friend. Coming from a well off family, Sharpay and her twin brother, Ryan Evans were art majors, Ryan was enrolled in Julliard's for choreography and Sharpay was currently taking a year off to tour around what most performers consider a Mecca for their kind: New York City.
Having no classes, and taking a day off from work (Troy literally had to threaten her to do so), Gabriella met up with Sharpay and Taylor at the mall with Sean in tow, sitting comfortably in a stroller wrapped up in warm autumn gear. They were currently at Macy's, where Sharpay was displaying a beautiful pink dress she hoped to buy, but not without the opinion of her most important critic: one year old Sean.
"Come on, I need your opinion here," Sharpay prompted the baby. Sean only blinked up with his adorable blue eyes, before resuming his task of chewing the rubber ring that he held in his chubby little hands, saliva dripping down the sides as evidence of his love for the toy.
"Don't think he wants to help," Taylor chuckled softly, putting away a skirt she had been looking at. She didn't need to try it on; the price tag said it all,
"Shar, I don't get why we're in here when you're the only one who can actually afford this," mumbled Gabriella, who rocked the stroller softly. She scuffed the toe of her roughed up sneakers against the squeaky clean floor uncomfortably. She felt so out of place in her shabby pea coat and turtle neck against the designer jackets, and branded clothing. Had it only been two years ago since she had been wearing something similar?
"Can't you just keep me company?" Sharpay pouted well naturedly, placing the dress in her 'maybe' pile before heading to the outerwear section, "Besides Gabby, isn't it time you get a new coat? The one you have on is completely out, not to mention an utter wreck,"
Leave it to good old Sharpay to be blunt and straight forward. Gabriella tugged her jacket defensively around her,
"I don't have the liberty to throw money around like you do," Gabriella answered a bit stiffly and too defensively.
"Gabs, relax, it's a fun day out, just look at some stuff, doesn't mean you have to buy. Besides, Blondie here will buy enough for all of us," Taylor said, squeezing Gabriella's shoulder reassuringly. Gabriella sighed and relaxed, she should listen to Taylor. Troy was currently at work as a coaching assistant at a close community center, and she didn't have class. She was out with her friends and her son, she should be enjoying herself. Apologizing to Sharpay, and smiling to Taylor, Gabriella picked up a shirt she had been eying for a while. It matched the winter season, a woolly, off shouldered shirt, with a peach cream colour, and long sleeves that looked snug and comfortable,
"So, what do you think?" Gabriella giggled, twirling around in front of her son, Sean giggled and hit his rubber rings repeatedly on the tray of his stroller, his toothless gums in a wide smile and his throat making bubbling sound, "I agree, perfect for the weather,"
"Geez and he wouldn't help me out," Sharpay mockingly grumbled. Sean babbled and giggled loudly waving his hands,
"Sorry, he says you're on your own," Gabriella laughed, her eyes twinkling. Gabriella gently pulled the cashmere sweater out of Sean's hands and gave it one last, longing look before hanging it back up, upon Sharpay and Taylor's questioning look, Gabriella hastily added, "I don't need another sweater,"
"Gabby, when was the last time you bought something nice for yourself?" Taylor asked,
"I can't just think about myself,"
"You're avoiding the question, when was the last time?" Taylor asked sternly, Gabriella chewed the bottom of her lip, an unfortunate bad habit she had yet been able to break out of since high school. Her brain racked for the most recent time she had bought something for herself. She bought Sean a cute little hat, but that was for Sean, and it was really cold out. Her most recent purchase for her own pleasure would've been…the dress she had gotten during the Christmas of their first year of marriage. It was a periwinkle blue, with an off shouldered design. It hugged the top part of her chest, showing just enough cleavage for a hint of sexiness, but not enough to make her look less elegant. It was knee length, and she had even splurged out a bit to buy a pear of white strapped heels.
She had worn that to Sharpay's Christmas party with Troy. That was one of the last times she had bought anything for herself.
"If it's taking you this long Gab, it's been too long," Sharpay said,
"Well unlike you guys I have an actual family to take care of," Gabriella snapped out of irritation. The two girls silenced and looked at one another, "I'm sorry…it's just…it's been a long day,"
"We know, look Gabby you don't have to buy it if you don't want to," Sharpay said gently, "We just want to see you happy…we haven't seen you smile in the longest time,"
"I have smiled…I am smiling," Gabriella said,
"Not like the way you smiled in high school," Taylor objected, "Back then, you were so relaxed, your smile was contagious, and your eyes sparkled to match…nowadays it seems so forced…I'm not trying to say you're unhappy, I have no right…but we just want to see a bit of our old Gabby back…the one that was happy and laughed with us,"
"Sorry guys," Gabriella sighed, she stroked Sean's fuzzy dark hair, and the baby cooed, "I guess you're right… it's just one shirt right?"
"Right!" Sharpay said brightly, "Now please let's line up before the lines get too long, it'll take me forever to pay for these," and she gestured to the full basket behind her and the three girls plus enfant lined up to pay for their purchase (or in Sharpay's case, purchases).
After a full half hour of waiting (Sharpay probably had more than half the store put together), the girls headed to a nearby coffee shop to escape the blistering winds. Inside, they settled in a booth set out in the corner, facing the busy streets of New York. As she waited for her coffee, Gabriella asked for a cup of hot water to warm Sean's milk, at the sight of the adorable baby boy, the young cashier at the front showed no hesitation, and cooed at little Sean as she passed Gabriella what water. The three best friends sat at the coffee shop for half an hour, catching up, and sharing silly stories. Sean made his contributions when he could, opting to bang his plastic keys on the table, and some how, Sharpay interpreted them as babbles that supported whatever she said.
Too soon, it was nearly one in the afternoon, and the girls quickly packed their things as they headed out. Gabriella was getting a ride from Taylor back to the apartment she shared with Troy, and as she bundled Sean up in his autumn coat and woolly hat, Sharpay announced that Ryan was on his way to pick her up. Gabriella slowed down in her attempt to get her wriggling son into mittens
"So," Gabriella began after a little while of silence, "How's Ryan?" the brunette approached the topic with caution. After graduation, Gabriella and Ryan had not left on good terms. Sharpay smiled sympathetically,
"He's good. He switched from musical theatre to choreography so we don't see each other as much," Sharpay answered. Gabriella nodded, "Gabs, don't feel bad, Ryan will turn around, he's stubborn,"
"He's an Evans, you're all stubborn," Taylor added jokingly. Gabriella smiled weakly, nodding,
"Well if that's the way you talk about me when I'm not there, I'm going to stop picking you up," said a familiar voice behind them. Having hit a spontaneous growth spurt just after high school Ryan Evans stood nearly at 6 foot, a half a head taller than Sharpay (when she was in heels which was most of the time), and a full head taller than Gabriella. Ryan always had a unique dress sense, even in high school, the daring blonde matched a dress shirt with sparkling pink pants, back then, Ryan dressed for attention.
Now, at the age of twenty-one, Ryan had matured into a sophisticated, charismatic and gentlemanly young man, not to mention he dressed his age, and was known to be quite smooth with the ladies. He walked up to them wearing a simple American Eagle v-necked sweater, with a pale pink collar peeking out of the neck. He matched it with a pair of slightly loose dark jeans, and dark sneakers, wearing a suave looking black pea coat. Oh Ryan Evans was Sharpay's shadow no more.
"Hey Ry," Sharpay smiled, greeting her twin brother with a warm one handed hug (hard to do two hands when the other hand was laden with bags).
"Good shopping day I see," Ryan said, gesturing to the multitude of bags by Sharpay's feet, "Hey Tay,"
"Hey," Taylor smiled; Ryan turned his stormy grey eyes towards Gabriella, and froze for a moment before letting loose a slightly smaller, but none the less warm smile,
"Hey Gabby," he said softly, Gabriella smiled back,
"Hi Ryan," she replied softly. Sean wiggled in Gabriella's arms, his blue eyes looking curiously at the new stranger that approached his mother, Ryan looked down at the tiny toddler in Gabriella's arms, and a mix of emotions fluttered through his eyes, before he extended his hand, and touched fingers with Sean. Sean giggled,
"And who are you?" Ryan grinned; Sean giggled and babbled what one could only assume was his attempt at pronouncing his own name,
"He's Sean," Gabriella translated with a smile, she shifted her hold so that Sean was facing forward and sitting on her forearm, with her other arm across his little stomach just in case, "He's one, almost turning two," Ryan smiled, looking at the young baby, with his messy hair and a dazzling warm smile like his mother. Ryan paused at Sean's eyes. They were the clearest blue, like sparkles of diamonds. Ryan had only seen that colour once before on someone else, and that someone just so happened to be Sean's father. He blinked and snapped out of his faze when he felt the prickling feeling on his neck, which could only mean that Sharpay was glaring at him.
"Ahhem, well," Sharpay interrupted, "I have to get back to campus tonight and start some work,"
"Yea, we should start heading back as well, Troy's almost finished right?" Taylor asked, Gabriella nodded, "It was nice seeing you Ryan,"
"You too," Ryan nodded to Taylor,
"Nice to see you again," Gabriella said softly, "Take care,"
"You too,"
And they headed their separate ways. As Gabriella walked with Taylor, barely listening to what her best friend was saying, Gabriella paused by a magazine stand where bold yellow titles splashed in front of her eyes. One particular magazine caught her attention, as their cover page was literally a single, digitally enhanced picture with bold, daring red captioning:
Greg Santos: New son, new heir
"Keep those passes strong guys, Jimmy spread your feet you're not doing ballet, Mike you better tie those shoe laces up before you injure someone…Justin it's chest passes, not head passes," Troy chuckled as he intercepted a basketball that was aimed at another boy's head. The boy named Justin, 17, snickered, and caught the ball Troy shot back,
"Just playing," Justin shrugged, Troy smirked,
"Well play some other time; I'm not being paid to see you give someone a concussion," Troy retorted to one of the best players on the team. When someone asked him if it was hard working with a bunch of teenagers in a small, smelly gym, Troy usually gave the same answer: 'they're teenagers, what do you expect?' But really, working with them was one of the highlights of his days. Sure, getting paid was definitely a plus, but being the coach's assistant, Troy saw so much of his younger self in those teenagers, and it took quite a bit of effort to remind himself that he was like them not so long ago.
There were so many chances you could've had. Oh yea, that thought definitely took some effort to stop.
There were times that his mind would be out of his control, and begin wondering at possible 'What If' scenarios: What if…they hadn't gotten married? What if… Gabriella had decided not to leave? What if…they don't love each other any more? And then that would lead to what if Sean hadn't been born? Every single time Troy had any one of those thoughts run through his mind, he mentally berated himself. He shouldn't be thinking about regret, let alone considering scenarios!
"Alright, we're done for the day, I'll see you back here next time, and please, James, if you don't want to sit out during one on one, wear shorts, not jeans," Troy added. He got scattered responses from the group of teenage boys that were desperately trying to get into the shower. Troy was the last to leave the gym, usually cleaning up and making sure all the basketballs were accounted for. Today was his payday, so he dropped by the office where an envelope addressed to him was already there. Picking it up, Troy left a sticky note of thanks on his coach's desk before he left.
Troy had the suspicion that his coach often over paid him. Troy hated to think that his coach took pity on his situation; in fact, he hated it when people around him took pity on him. He was married, not dying. There were many times Troy had wanted to confront the coach about it, but then his mind would rewind, and so many flaws in his and Gabriella's life would pop up, he would never have the will to do it, and so, like the many times before, Troy carefully pocketed the envelope, making a mental note to stop by the bank before heading home.
He couldn't wait to see his wife and son.
Sharpay and Ryan
"Would it kill you to smile more around her?" Sharpay asked sharply as she and Ryan piled into his car. Ryan remained silent as he shoved the keys into his car, igniting the engine, "Ryan Evans answer me,"
"What do you want from me Shar? She probably hates me," Ryan retorted,
"Gabriella never hates anyone, much less you. Why can't you just let it go?" Sharpay asked softly. Ryan bit his lip to refrain from coming back with a bitter response. In reality, Ryan had really did try to let it go, he's tried so many times, but it was always hard to forget painful memories, especially memories of your first, real love.
Ryan had never been 'popular'. If anything, the only reason he had friends was because he was with his twin sister half the time. He knew what people said about him, they called him Sharpay's dog, the shadow, the follower twin, but Ryan didn't care. To him, all those names were just out of jealousy because he was Ryan Evans, twin brother of future Broadway star Sharpay Evans. When he and Sharpay moved to Albuquerque a year after they had entered high school, Ryan assumed the same position as he had done so many times before…until he met Gabriella Montez. Gabriella had been new to East High, and Ryan couldn't help but take an interest in her. She was smart, pretty and kind…but even more than that, she was kind to Ryan.
The day she came up to him was during their drama class, the first thing out of her mouth wasn't 'You're Sharpay's brother', the first thing she said was,
"You were really good up there," She gave him a smile that lit up the entire room and could've lit up the stage in a way no spot light ever could. Having never experienced someone saying something like that to him before, all Ryan could do was nod, smile, said thank you and asked Gabriella if she had been new. They became fast friends, and for Ryan, she became something more than a friend.
Then she began dating Troy Bolton.
Ryan didn't hate him, it was more so because he was jealous. Troy befriended everyone so easily; he was smooth and knew his way around people. Back then, Ryan wouldn't have dreamed of being half as easy going as Troy Bolton was. It only added salt to injury when Gabriella began dating him. Ryan could see Gabriella was happy, her eyes shone brighter, she laughed more, and she was more relaxed, and Ryan had tried to be happy for her until Gabriella announced her engagement and upcoming marriage with him.
What was she thinking? Not only was she only 18, but she was the sole heiress to her step-dad's company! Coming from a well off family himself, Ryan knew the implications. The Evans had met Greg Santos before, and Ryan knew Greg's personality, he would never approve. And he had tried to convince Gabriella, and that only made it worse,
"I thought you, of all people would support me…I thought you'd be happy for me," Gabriella said coldly,
"I do support you but Gabs think logically, you're only 18, not even out of high school, what would your parents think?"
"I love Troy, Ryan, and when two people love each other as much as we do…don't you think we're allowed to get married?"
"Gabs you're still young…"
"I don't want to talk about this. I'm going to marry him, and I really want you to come to our wedding…please you're like a brother to me…my closest friend," Gabriella had pleaded.
Ryan had attended her wedding of course, and he watched her give her life to him. He hugged her like any other supportive friend, and he was there when she officially broke all ties with her step dad and mother. Ryan made the mistake of trying to persuade Gabriella once more after the ceremony, which escaladed into a full out fight in front of their guests and friends. Troy had taken Gabriella by the shoulder as the brunette shook from anger, and several tears leaked from her eyes. That had been the last time he and Gabriella had a conversation.
"Ryan? Ryan are you alright, the light turned green," Sharpay's voice interrupted his thoughts. There were sounds of car horns behind him, urging him to go forward as the stoplights turned green. Ryan coughed slightly, putting the car into motion once more,
"I'm fine,"
"You looked like you were deep in thought,"
"Just thinking…"
"About?"
"Gabriella…and Troy," Ryan sighed. Sharpay's eyes softened,
"Ry… I know you liked her…but you've got to accept the fact that she's married already,"
"I know…and I think I've learned to accept it…I mean…they're perfect for each other aren't they?" Ryan chuckled softly, "he really loves her,"
"He does," Sharpay smiled, "What made you realize that?" Ryan sighed,
"I was out one time after class and I bumped into Troy by a florist. I was lucky he didn't punch me, but he treated me nice enough. Anyway…he was buying a bouquet of roses for Gabriella…I asked him if it was their anniversary or her birthday or something," Ryan paused and smiled softly to himself,
"He told me it wasn't for any of those reasons. He said that Gabriella had complained that their living room looked bare. He was buying those roses to put in their living room because she loves the colour red, and that he would be able to see a smile on her face and the sparkle in her eyes," Ryan looked up, coming up to another red light. He turned to look at Sharpay, who had a soft smile on her face, and an understanding gleam in her eyes,
"And you know what?" Ryan said, "I can accept that." Sharpay was about do lunge at her brother for his ability to finally see the light when his cell phone rang. Slightly irritated, but determined to resume her sisterly gushing about how he was 'all grown up', Ryan answered the phone,
"Hello?" a momentary paused. Ryan turned his eyes and looked with a shocked expression at Sharpay, and that look made the blonde's stomach turn nervously, "Mrs Santos?"
Troy was greeted with an unusual sight when he arrived home. Dropping the keys to their small apartment onto the kitchen counter, Troy shed all the extra layers he had put on to keep himself warm from the weather outside. The house was quiet, the TV wasn't on, and only a few toys littered the floor. There was no aroma of dinner, or the sound of a squealing baby trying to avoid bath time…again. Troy had gotten so used to all the excess noise that the silence he had been yearning for during the first couple months of Sean's birth buzzed awkwardly in his ears.
"Gabby? Sean?" Troy called to his family. With no immediate response, Troy temporarily pushed down his feeling of anxiety as he urgently checked the rooms in his apartment. Sometimes it was a good thing they only had enough money to rent an apartment this small, it took Troy less than a minute to locate his wife and sleeping son (and managed to avoid shaving five years off his life span if his search had taken a second longer). Sean was already in the midnight blue footy pyjamas Sharpay had bought not too long ago, and was sleeping soundly in his mother's arm. Gabriella, however, was staring blankly at the cover of a magazine,
"Hey," Troy said softly, going up to her. He sat down, the edge of the bed dipping at his weight, "Baby, what's wrong?" He really hoped she still wasn't thinking about the argument they had the night before, when Gabriella looked up with watering brown eyes, Troy's heart shattered all over again, as he gathered her up against him, careful of their sleeping son, "Gabriella what happened?"
Gabriella didn't speak, but she motioned towards the magazine she had been staring at.
Greg Santos: New son, new heir
Suddenly everything fell into place; the tears, the silence, and the way she held Sean so protectively against her. Her step-dad had come to haunt them once again…only this time, he didn't know what he was doing. A new heir meant a child, a child created by Greg and Isabella…a child created by Gabriella's own mother. The child was her half-brother.
"Gabriella…"
"He…that's…that's my brother…" Gabriella said quietly, "I…Troy I…I want to see him…I want to hold him I…that's my brother."
"You want to go back?"
"No!" Gabriella gasped, looking up, "No, I don't want to leave you or Sean!"
"I know, Brie I know," Troy said softly, brushing his hand down her brown locks, soothing her, trying to relax her anxious muscles, "I'm not saying you want to leave, but I know you want to see him,"
"I just…I'm so confused Troy," Gabriella looked downwards, "I swore to have nothing to do with them…I'm not part of their family anymore and yet…"
"He's your brother Gabs," Troy said soothingly, "Greg or no Greg, Isabella is your mother, there's no word or action you can do to erase that fact. Your mom had a child, in some way, your blood is in him as well, it's natural for you to want to see him, and it doesn't mean you're regretting anything or that you have to be a part of their family,"
"You…you won't get mad if I went to see him?" Gabriella asked timidly, Troy chuckled, and kissed her forehead,
"Do you think I'm some sort of monster, to deny my own wife to see her only brother? Hey, technically I am his Uncle, I have the right to see him too," Troy winked jokingly, bringing a smile on her face. She relaxed against him as her hold on Sean softened,
"I saw Ryan today," she said, Troy paused,
"And how is he?"
"I think he still thinks we hate him,"
"We don't?"
"Troy!"
"Kidding, geez," he rolled his eyes, "Really, how is he? Last time I saw him, we bumped into each other at the florists," the couple took a glance at the drying roses in their room. They had to keep it in here now, after Sean decided that all things red must be edible.
"He's ok, he's still awkward around me," Gabriella frowned, "I want him back…I miss the guy who use to be like my big brother,"
"He'll turn around," Troy assured her, "If he doesn't, we can always try to invite him over, and force him to accept us again," Gabriella looked up, her eyes twinkling in amusement as the sound of the doorbell caused Sean to shift slightly in her arms,
"Are all men that forceful?"
"Are all women that emotional?"
Troy gave her a quick kiss to avoid her slap on his arm, and kissed Sean's forehead before heading to the door. Gabriella stayed where she was, gently rocking the toddler in her arms; the peace of silence only lasted for a couple seconds before Troy called for her at the front door. Gabriella carefully stood up, still refusing to let Sean out of her arms, and walked to the door with their son fast asleep,
"Ryan?" Gabriella gasped, Ryan Evans stood at their door, an uncomfortable look etched on his face. The choreographer offered a small smile as his eyes landed on the toddler in her arms. As if sensing someone was looking at him, Sean shifted once again, "What are you doing here?"
Ryan paused, looking at Gabriella, then at Troy. The two men connected eyes for a second, Ryan as if asking permission to speak. Troy's eyes were soft, and seeing no sign or hint that Troy might suddenly attack him, Ryan cleared his throat,
"I got a call…"
Troy blinked "You got a call?" he repeated just in case he heard it wrong, "That's…good?" Gabriella giggled softly at Troy's tone, and Ryan let out a breath of relief, smiling ever so slightly,
"Let me finish,"
"Please because I don't get how it's important for us to know you got a call," Troy added with a crooked smile on his face, his type of offering Ryan back into their lives, Ryan grinned, he only hoped the mood would be just as light as it was now after he told them what he had to say,
"I got a call…" Ryan's gaze shifted to Gabriella, "From your mom… at the hospital. She wants to see you,"
The only sound made in the room was Sean's calm, and oblivious breathing.
A/N: I started writing this chapter nearly two whole weeks ago, but school's been crazy and November had been an insane month. Sorry for the long wait I hope this was worth it.