Hi guys...thanks so much for taking the time to read my story and for letting me know your thoughts. It means so much to me. And also, I am so happy that Lauren and Matthew have seemed to strike such a chord with all of you. They are pretty special. This chapter is a little shorter and a bit of a filler. It was necessary though, to set up what I am planning for the next couple of chapters. I am sorry I have not been as frequent with my updates, I think I am averaging 1-2 a week...and I promise to keep that pace up. I have a good reason for this though, one many of you may be excited about. I am transitioning my story "Grace" into a novel. (This means taking out the HSM aspects, but the heart of Kelsi and Ryan are going to remain the same. And of course Grace will stay exactly as she is.) "Grace" will be the first of a three part trilogy. All centered on three best girl friends. If you are interested in information about this and to be updated on my progress let me know.
Thanks again, Jen
Sharpay Evans sat across from her brother in the crowded hotel restaurant, her pink manicured fingers drumming a repetitive beat on the table top. She was desperately trying to pay attention, as Ryan relayed the previous night's events to her. Honestly, what was exciting to her brother so wasn't her cup of tea. While she agreed Ryan needed to meet Kelsi at the sledding hill, frolicking around in wet snow was the exact opposite of Sharpay's idea of fun. There were a few bright points in Ryan's tiring dialogue. She couldn't help but smile, as Ryan reenacted his experience down the sledding hill. And she was also forced to admit, the kids Kelsi watched sounded...interesting, in a cute way. And Sharpay's attention was definitely caught when Ryan mentioned Zeke's cookies. She actually felt her mouth begin to water at the mere mention of those cookies...and her boyfriend. As Sharpay allowed her thoughts to focus on Zeke, she recognized that she was going to need to be heading home soon. As much as she enjoyed spending time with her brother and helping him on his romantic ventures, she was missing Zeke more than she had counted on. It was actually quite a realization for the pink-loving diva. Whereas, Sharpay had always known she loved and adored Zeke, she had not become aware of how much she needed him. Being away from him, for just these few days was showing her how necessary he was in her life. Sharpay let her gaze wander to her left ring finger as she considered possible next steps in her relationship. She briefly wondered if it would be appropriate for the woman to propose to the man? Sharpay laughed off the contemplation, when had she ever played by the rules? If she wanted to marry Zeke, she would, simple as that.
Ryan became aware about half way through his retelling of the night before that his sister was no longer in the same hemisphere as him. He was about to make a pointed comment, but Sharpay's expression stopped him. Whatever she was thinking about had a mirage of expressions washing across her features. First she looked...hungry. That didn't make much sense to Ryan, but without a doubt, hunger was the emotion he was reading. And then she looked contemplative, with a bit of wonder and surprise. And then something happened that Ryan never thought he would ever experience. His sister's lips parted in a gentle smile, her deep brown eyes warmed and a pretty blush covered her cheeks. It was as if an inner peace started to radiate off of her very being. Ryan blinked his eyes rapidly, as he recognized what he was witnessing. Right there, before his very eyes, his sister, Sharpay Evans, was softening. Ryan just watched amazed, as his twin's bright eyes met his.
"Ryan, I need Zeke. Like really need him. He is a necessary component in my life. My life is actually lacking without him." Sharpay expressed, her voice caught somewhere between alarm and amazement.
"That's wonderful Shar, because it is apparent to all who know the two of you that Zeke feels the exact same way." Ryan said softly, a warm smile on his face, as he reached across the table to grasp his sister's hand.
"It is isn't it?" Sharpay asked quietly.
"Yes, it is." Ryan responded honestly. "And you know, with that big of a revelation, I can't even be that upset that you completely disregarded all of what I was previously telling you."
A pretty blush covered Sharpay's cheeks at Ryan's comment.
"Sorry Ry. I was trying to listen, I really was. It's just, my mind started to wander and then you mentioned Zeke's cookies and....well, you know what that does to me." Sharpay paused, as inspiration hit. "Come to think of it, you can't even blame me for loosing track of your story. It was your own fault Ry. You shouldn't have mentioned those cookies." Sharpay finished, feeling quite vindicated.
"Right, sorry Shar, it was all my fault. I never should have mentioned the cookies." Ryan said, the dry sarcasm evident in his voice.
"Oh, shut up Ry." Sharpay sent back with a playful smirk. "So what happened after the cookies?"
"Well, I walked Kelsi home-" Ryan started, only to be interrupted by Sharpay.
"That's good Ry, very smooth move." Sharpay interjected.
"Thank you." Ryan stated, a smile on his face and eyebrows slightly raised. "Like a gentleman, I showed her to her door and sent her inside with a goodnight kiss." Ryan finished, feeling quite pleased with himself.
"What?" Sharpay exclaimed, drawing the attention of the other couples and families currently eating breakfast in the hotel's acclaimed restaurant. "Ryan, how many times do I have to tell you, it is too soon to be kissing her. Honestly, do I need to staple your lips shut? It makes no sense, you were friends with the girl for years, and did you ever try to kiss her...when she wanted you to kiss her might I add? No, you didn't. And now, when she is ready to flee in the other direction at the mere sight of you, what have you done? I'll tell you what you've done...kissed her, not once, but twice. Seriously Ryan, sometimes I wonder about you." Sharpay finished, taking a deep breath as fresh air whooshed into her lungs.
Ryan just sat there, staring at her from across the table, sitting back in his chair, lounging, as if he had been enjoying a show.
"Are you finished?" He asked his sister simply.
"Yes, I think so." Sharpay huffed.
"Good. Would now be a good time to mention that I kissed her on the....wait for it...cheek?" Ryan stated, a smart smirk already in place.
Sharpay stared at her brother in complete silence, her lips forming into a small "O". She quickly looked around, just then starting to realize the commotion she had just made.
"You kissed her on the cheek?" Sharpay whispered, leaning over the table to focus on her brother, trying not to draw anymore unwanted attention.
"Yes Shar, the cheek." Ryan responded, mimicking Sharpay's voice and action.
"Oh well, that's alright then. Sweet even." Sharpay supplied, leaning back in her chair and attempting to act casual.
Ryan just shook his head and chuckled, as he stared at his sister.
"Glad you approve Shar, glad you approve."
-----------------------------------------------------------
Kelsi burrowed further into her coat, her hands gripping the mittens of her two small companions. Matthew and Lauren both started to bounce in excitement as they neared the theater. Kelsi hadn't been planning on taking the kids into the heart of the city, but she had received a call from Charlie when she had been picking Lauren up from school. It seemed there was some sort of emergency, and Kelsi's presence was required. Kelsi couldn't help but be a bit nervous, she had never been called to the theater in an emergency situation. She had been there when such meetings were taking place, but never as an actual necessary attendee. She tried not to dwell on her racing heart and jittery stomach as they passed through the threshold of the building. The kids were definitely a welcoming distraction. Lauren and Matthew were already starting to shed their winter gear the moment warm heat brushed across their faces.
"We're here!" Matthew announced, his cheeks still rosy from the chill outside.
"Charlie?" Lauren posed in a question, looking for one of her most favorite people.
Kelsi wished she was sharing the excitement radiating off of Lauren and Matthew. All she felt at the present moment was foreboding...something was about to happen. She didn't know what, why or when exactly, but she could just sense that something was in the works. Her perceptions were heightened when she saw Charlie rushing into the theater's lobby to meet her.
"Kelsi, thank God you're here. I need to talk to you and it is of utmost importance." Charlie said, his usual calm demeanor taken over by nervous energy.
"What's "utmost" mean?" Lauren asked, tapping Charlie lightly on his forearm as she asked the question.
Kelsi didn't wait for Charlie's response before bending down to her little love's level.
"It means right now sweetheart." Kelsi said focusing first on Lauren, before shifting her gaze to Charlie. "What's wrong Charlie and what do you need?" Kelsi finished, hoping she wasn't going to regret her words.
Charlie wasted no time in getting right to the point.
"We don't have a pianist for "Mary Poppins", we need you to do it." He stated, knowing all the while this was asking a lot of his petite friend. Charlie was aware of the compositions and performances Kelsi had created in the past. That said, he also knew she had no desire to continue along those lines. When Kelsi had come to Chicago, she had made it clear she was not looking to be in the limelight. On the contrary, she wanted to be as far away from any kind of attention as possible. To Kelsi, Chicago equaled an escape from her previous life, a self-made safe haven of sorts. By asking what he was of Kelsi, Charlie was deeply aware of how much his request was tipping her nicely made sanctuary.
There was a time when this would have made Kelsi ecstatic, but now all she felt was nauseous. She couldn't do it. She hadn't performed in front of an audience in years. Kelsi considered her nice organized and simple life. True, Ryan showing up had thrown a wrench in the "simple" aspects of it, but she even felt like that was smoothing out. But this, performing, taking on that kind of commitment was scary. And then there was of course the whole scenario of working with Ryan even more than she was scheduled to before. Kelsi could freely admit, while she did feel like their friendship was slowly showing signs of reemerging, she wasn't quite ready to face some of the other new feelings that seemed to be popping up. Was she really ready to have Ryan Evans so infused in her life? More to the point, did she even have a choice? At the end of the day, her friends needed her, and she was not one to let down those she cared about.
"That shouldn't be a problem." Kelsi started hesitantly, her blue eyes huge with an underlying fear. "I will have to figure out scheduling and talk things over with Sarah." Kelsi stated, gesturing towards Lauren and Matthew who were currently playing freeze tag in the lobby.
"We will work with you in every way possible Kels. And you know we love having the kids here. Plus, it's pretty evident they feel quite at home in the theater." Charlie accessed, watching as Lauren and Matthew knowingly ran around every nook and cranny present in the theater's spacious lobby. Charlie could still sense the apprehension that seemed to be bodily attached to his small friend. There was only one other concern Kelsi would have with the recent development change...Ryan.
"Kelsi, are you going to be okay, you know...working with Ryan?" Charlie asked bluntly, his brown eyes deepened with concern.
"I think it should be..." Kelsi paused, wondering what word could possibly sum up her feelings on that particular subject, "okay." She finished, wincing slightly over her choice. But in all honesty, she couldn't think of anything more appropriate. She really didn't know what to expect, her feelings for Ryan were currently a jumbled up mess. Kelsi unknowingly lifted her narrow fingers to her cheek, gently resting them where Ryan's lips had touched less than 24 hours before.
Charlie stood stock still watching Kelsi, knowing Ryan was the obvious reason for the far off look in her eyes and the soft blush that was soon gaining in color on her cheeks. Something had happened. Charlie didn't know what that said "something" was, but he knew there had been some sort of development between the two old friends.
"As your friend, your answer worries me. As your employer, I am in dire need of your skills, so I am going to have to bank that worry for the moment." Charlie stated, watching as Kelsi fought to bring her focus back from her daydream. "That said, you know Reilly and I are here if you need anything."
"I know that Charlie. And I am so grateful to have you two in my life." Kelsi said, openly moving in to hug her friend. "Now, why don't we go over scheduling, and make a rough draft that I can check over with Sarah." Kelsi finished.
"Sounds great, we can do that in the theater." Charlie said, before switching his focus to the kids. "C'mon guys, how do you feel about running around the theater?"
Lauren and Matthew quickly followed after Charlie. They loved coming to the theater, it had to be their very favorite place to play. Lauren skipped up ahead of Kelsi and her brother, readily linking her small hand with Charlie's.
"I wish you could have gone sledding with us yesterday Charlie, but we had fun without you. Ryan came and we-" The little girl was promptly cut off by a suddenly halted Charlie.
Matthew instantly rammed right into Charlie's stopped figure.
"Ouch, Charlie, move your tushy!" The little boy said, while he rubbed his forehead and then proceeded to spank Charlie's offending body part.
"Sorry buddy." Charlie said, sparing Matthew a quick apology before bringing his gaze to Kelsi's suddenly flushed face. She was blushing. Holy crap, something had happened! When he had last seen Ryan and Kelsi, they looked like they didn't want to be within 10 feet of each other. Well, at least Kelsi sure looked that way, poor Ryan had just looked confused. "You went sledding...with Ryan?" Charlie asked astounded. "What the hell happened between Friday and today?"
Lauren pulled firmly on Charlie's sleeve, bringing his gaze down to hers. "You said hell Charlie, we do not use that kind of language, thank you very much." Lauren said, her green eyes wide and chastising.
Charlie actually had the grace to blush as he was stared down by a pint sized red headed girl.
"Sorry sweetie, I guess I just got a little carried away." Charlie said, apologizing not only to Lauren, but to Kelsi too.
Lauren acknowledged Charlie's apology with a nod, before bringing her focus to her brother.
"Come on Matty, it looks like Charlie needs to talk privately to Kelsi. I don't want you to hear anymore possible bad words."
Matthew was fast to link his hand with his sister's. "Sure Lo. Charlie, no bad words during your privacy." Matthew made the parting comment as he raced after his sister into the theater.
"Well, I think you were properly disciplined." Kelsi said, not even trying to control the laughter that was rapidly escaping.
"That I was." Charlie acknowledged, before bringing the topic back to the one previously at hand. "So, what's going on with you and Ryan?"
"Charlie, if I knew, I would tell you." Kelsi said, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
Charlie's eye's narrowed, as he stared at his friend. "You're evading." He concluded.
Kelsi pushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear and heaved a light sigh. "Not necessarily on purpose. I just really don't know what's going on. We reached some sort of peace Friday night, not much of an amicable peace, but a peace all the same. And then his sister showed up at my apartment unannounced on Saturday, and surprisingly, we had a good talk. I had actually decided that I was going to talk to Ryan and clear the air." Kelsi paused, before adding under her breath, "not that I had deciphered exactly when we were going to have this said conversation. But I thought it was a positive step that I was even willing to have it."
"That is a very positive step" Charlie added. "Is that what you spoke about yesterday?"
Kelsi became suddenly interested in the floor, as she whispered her answer. "No."
Charlie had to strain to here her. "What did you say?"
Kelsi looked up, refusing to make direct eye contact with Charlie. "I said no." Kelsi looked up at her friend, trying to defend her reasons. "Monday was just...fun and wonderful and nice and perfect-"
Charlie stopped Kelsi's ramble by making confused waving gestures with his hands.
"Wait, wait, wait....WAIT. So, let me get this straight. You have yet to technically clear the air with Ryan?" Charlie asked in exasperation.
"Yes." Kelsi answered simply and meekly.
"And despite this fact, you still managed to have a...how did you put it? A fun and wonderful and perfect and nice-" Charlie was interrupted by Kelsi's correction.
"I said nice and then...perfect." She said, trying not to draw too much attention to the fact that she had yet to talk to Ryan about the past.
"Whatever. Kels, I am so happy that you managed to have a nice time with Ryan yesterday. I am even happier that you have finally decided to bite the bullet, and talk to him about the past. But I am a little worried that it seemed like you had the perfect opportunity to speak to him yesterday and you let that said opportunity pass you by." Charlie stated, looking at Kelsi in a questioning manner.
"I could give you a list of ready excuses about now Charlie." Kelsi started.
"But you're not going to." Charlie warned.
"No, I'm not." Kelsi began with a sigh. "I chickened out, pure and simple, I just couldn't do it. But I will. I know the conversation isn't going to be easy, but after last night I want, no, scratch that...I need to know what happened...on his end."
"And he needs to know what happened on your end too Little K." Charlie added softly.
"I know." Kelsi said with meaning.
Deciding that he had grilled her enough on the topic...for today, Charlie threw his arm around his small friend's shoulders as he led her into the theater. He smiled and pressed a light kiss to the top of her curly head when he felt her sink into the comfort of his embrace.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Kelsi felt completely drained, as she made her way home later in the evening. Going over her new scheduling with Sarah had taken longer than she had been expecting. But at least it was done, and there shouldn't be any conflicts between her job as a nanny and her job as not just a rehearsal pianist, but professional pianist for the show as well. It didn't help that she had just missed her train, and was forced to wait in the blistering cold for the next one. Today had been another day full of shock and surprises. Kelsi let out a deeply pent up sigh, as she recognized that the last few days had been full of those said shocks and surprises. Kelsi took a moment to ponder whether she would choose to go back to her earlier life, if she could? Before Ryan had showed up and before she had been asked to be the professional pianist in charge of a Broadway in Chicago show? And the answer to this internal question....no. Even though she had experienced more stress and mood changes than she could ever remember living through, she wouldn't change one aspect of the last couple of days. Truth be told, she had needed a change, she had become comfortable in the continuity of her life. And if she was going to be completely honest with herself, she had also used her new life as something of a safe zone, or crutch even. In the last two years, the life she had created for herself was, no doubt about it wonderful, but it was also filled with the comfort of a security blanket. There was no real risk or change. Her life had been about as stagnant as a statue. The only real sources of change coming from the kids' lives and her friends. Change...that word seemed to be popping up more and more within her thoughts. This could be because the said change was occurring, whether she was ready for it or not. Kelsi was somewhat surprised to realize she was actually craving the change. She didn't know what life or the fates had in store for her, but Kelsi was planning on buckling her metaphorical seatbelt and holding on for the ride.
So this chapter ended up having some "aha" moments for not just Kelsi, but Sharpay too. I am looking forward to writing the next chapter, I am thinking it will be a long overdue talk between Kelsi and Ryan. There is some major air that is need of clearing. On a side note, don't you just love the word "aha"? (Thanks Neysa!)