disclaimer: No, as much as I'd like to be a screenplay writer, I don't own any television shows. Not Grey's Anatomy, not Crime Scene Investigation, not Law and Order (although I do love their sound effects between scenes), not Emergency room. Nor do I own Ellen Pompeo, Ellen Degeneres, Sandra Oh, Shonda Rhimes, Confucius and Romeo and Juliet. I don't own ANYTHING, okay? 'Cept for Angie.

a/n: We (meaning I) are pleased to inform you that in this chapter, Kelsi will have yet another mental war against herself. That means another reason for us (meaning you) to review like there's no tomorrow. And if we (meaning you again) don't do so, my people (meaning myself) will sic Tinkerbell the ferocious Chihuahua on you (meaning you).

"...Okay. Thanks very much, Ellen. Mhmm. Tell Sandra I said hello. Alright. Bye." Angie hung up her cell phone and dropped it into her purse. She and Kelsi sat in the living room after finishing lunch.

Kelsi, who had taken to guessing who Angie was talking to when she overheard parts of her conversations, looked up curiously. "Degeneres?"

Angie shook her head. "Pompeo. Just had to ask her something about the contact information she gave me for Shonda Rhimes."

"Who?"

"You don't watch Grey's Anatomy, do you?"

Kelsi shook her head, taking out her own phone to check her messages. "Are you up for a trip downtown?" She asked, already knowing Angie's answer.

"Do you not know me?" She laughed. "Let's go!"

- - - - -

"So...You like Ryan?"

Angie's question made Kelsi drop her fork onto the floor. The two of them sat in a small café, where they had decided to spend the rest of the afternoon.

"W-What?" Kelsi stammered, hoping she had misheard.

"You heard me," Angie persisted. "You like Ryan, don't you?"

"Well – I – I don't think – how did you, how did you...?"

Angie smirked at her second cousin. By then, Kelsi knew that smirk all too well. That was the infamous I-Know-Everything-and-You-Can-Never-Argue-with-Me-Because-I'm-Always-Right smirk. And the skillful playmaker could tell that Angie saw right through her whenever she tried to lie, because that smirk was the first sign or suspicion.

"How did I know?" Angie strummed her fingers lightly against the table. "Really now, Kelsi. Everyone knows. Everyone except for Ryan."

"Everyone?!" Kelsi repeated, running a hand through her hair subconsciously.

"Everyone."

"Everyone?"

"Everyone."

"Everyone?"

"Everyone. And no matter how many times you say it, it's still going to mean the same thing."

"Everyone..."

"What are you, a parrot?" Angie asked impatiently. "Yes, Kelsikins, everyone!"

She shut her eyes, barely able to take in what was going on. "Except for Ryan?"

"Except for Ryan." Angie nodded.

"Except for Ryan..." Kelsi muttered again slowly, feeling somewhat relieved.

"Do we have to go through this again?"

For a while, she was unable to reply. Am I really that obvious? She thought, biting her lip. Everyone...Oh, God...Troy knows...Gabi and Taylor know...Sharpay knows...And Zeke and Chad probably know too...And now Angie knows...How on earth have I missed out on all of them knowing?

"Kelsi? Kelsi, wake up! Hello?" Angie waved a hand in front of the dazed girl's face. A mischievous grin lit up her face when an idea came to her. Angie leaned back slightly, crossed her arms, and averted her gaze to the area over Kelsi's shoulder. She raised a hand above her head. "Hi, Ryan!"

Kelsi broke out of her trance instantly, nearly jumping out of her seat. She gripped the arms of her chair and took deep breaths as Angie laughed, apparently highly amused.

"I'm sorry," she sighed. "Couldn't quite help myself."

"Angie, I'm not sure how to take this," Kelsi said after her breathing calmed down. "I mean, half the time, I'm in denial that I like him because I'm probably hopeless, the other half I spend telling myself what an idiot I am for falling for someone like Ryan Evans, and the other half I'm not sure whether he's less than a friend, more that a friend or just a friend!"

Angie raised an eyebrow at her. "That's three halves."

"See?" The slightly hysteric composer yelped. "I'm losing it!"

"Just slow down for a minute," Angie ordered. "And listen. I don't want everything to go all soap-opera-drama on my account, so keep it quiet that I told you about everyone knowing. And either way, Ryan's still completely oblivious, right?"

Kelsi sighed and answered, "I hope so, Angie. I really, really hope so."

- - - - -

On the walk home, Angie was chattering away on her cell phone, as usual. Kelsi, meanwhile, was having another mental battle with herself.

You know what to do now, don't you?

What? Drown myself? Jump off of the Empire State Building? Bathe in gasoline then start smoking?

Duh, no! Tell Ryan how you feel!

No...No, I like the gasoline idea better.

You're such a killjoy!

The only thing I plan on killing is myself. As for the joy part...Let's just say "joy" isn't really in my vocabulary right now.

Stop being so pessimistic. If you tell him, you won't have to worry about him finding out!

Say that again.

If you tell him, you won't have to worry about him finding out.

That is so incredibly stupid. All of it. Where do you get this stuff, off of fortune cookies?

Hey, if Confucius died with honor, so should you. Didn't you read Romeo and Juliet last year?

Confucius did not write Romeo and Juliet!

You're talking about jumping off of the Empire State Building. Why should I listen to you?

I am the voice of reason. You, on the other hand, are the voice of insanity.

"You're going to have to tell him eventually."

Kelsi looked up, bewildered, only to find that Angie was talking to whomever was on the other line, not her. She breathed a sigh of relief, fully aware that her second cousin wasn't reading her mind.

"And I'm sorry," Angie went on, "but CSI pushed Law and Order off of the top years ago. Same goes for ER. As soon as Grey's Anatomy came onto the silver screen, no one even knew what 'ER' stood for anymore. He'll just have to accept it and move on. So I will see you in four months. Goodbye."

As Angie hung up, Kelsi took her key out of the doorknob and opened the front door, nearly walking into a tall pile of boxes stacked by the doorway.

"Mom?" She called, carefully pushing the boxes aside. "Why are all these boxes here?"

Mrs. Nielson, in an ecstatic mood, went to greet her daughter. "I have fantastic news," she smiled. "Today, my boss gave me an enormous promotion."

Kelsi looked back at the numerous boxes. "Then what are these, congratulations gifts from your colleagues?"

"No," Mrs. Nielson shook her head briefly. "I have such a high position now that my company is transferring me to a different city."

Both Angie and Kelsi looked up in shock.

"Then that means..." Kelsi whispered.

Her mother finished for her. "On the same night of Angie's flight, we're flying out. So, in about a week, we're moving."

a/n: TUM TUM TUUUM...I think we've established the cliff-hanging-add-fuel-to-fire-by-injecting-conflict suspense. I'm going on a three day vacation to the place of swimming, baby crocodiles and ostriches, so expect the next chapter a bit later than usual. And, yes, I know I'm evil. Poodles! - - - Kat