a/n: To my dear and loyal readers: This is, I'm sad to say, the final chapter. It's been a blast writing this, and you guys wrote awesome reviews all throughout. But don't worry, you'll hear more of what happens with Ryan, Kelsi, Angie, Sharpay and everyone else in my next story – a sort of broken line continuation, with mostly one-shots, all following this story. Ya'll have been awesome! Stay tuned!

"Congratulations again, Mrs. Nielson."

"Y-Yes, thank you, ma'am."

Kelsi's mother hung up, trying hard to resist jumping into the air in delight. Two promotions in one month – it had to be a record.

She strode happily over to her daughter, who was standing in what seemed to be a group of her friends.

"Kelsi!" she gasped, hugging her daughter tightly. "I've been – "

"– promoted." Angie finished for her, grinning.

"Right, and now we don't have to – "

"– move." Angie finished her sentence again.

"That's great!" Kelsi hugged her mother once more. "Mom, I have – "

"– a boyfriend."

For a moment, Kelsi and her mother, as well as Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay and Ryan stared at Angie.

It was Kelsi who broke the silence. "How did you know about all this?"

Angie tilted her head slightly and answered with a smile: "A good magician never reveals her secrets."

"I think a celebration is in order," Mrs. Nielson said. "We'll have Troy, Gabriella, Ryan and Chanel over for dinner."

Sharpay sighed, smiling wryly. "That sounds wonderful." She turned to Angie, pouting slightly. "But does this mean you're still leaving?"

Angie gave her partner in crime a tight hug. "All good things must come to an end," she laughed. "But I'll see you soon. Maybe I'll book another flight out in a couple months."

She looked up at the large digital clock on the wall. "I gotta run."

"It was great meeting you guys," she told Troy and Gabi, hugging them each briefly. Moving on to Ryan, she said, "I guess my work here is done." She hugged him as well, and then went over to her second cousin and aunt.

"Thank you so much for everything." She hugged Mrs. Nielson, then Kelsi.

"You know, it's a shame a miracle-worker like you can't be around more often," the composer smirked. "Promise me you'll keep in touch." Angie nodded.

Just as she was about to turn around to leave, Angie beckoned Kelsi closed and whispered in her ear. "You don't need me for miracles to happen around here. You've got Sharpay."

- - - - -

"I still can't believe so much happened in one afternoon," Kelsi said. The five of them were sitting in the living room, having just finished dinner. "I bet my mom is still bouncing off the walls upstairs."

"Tell her to watch out for sliding doors," Gabi muttered.

"Don't you just love how Kelsi's mom decorates this place? I think the stars on the ceiling are a nice touch," Troy teased her, grinning.

"She still never remembers my name," Sharpay mused. "What's so complicated about 'Sharpay'?"

"I can think of a few things complicated about Sharpay," Ryan laughed.

"I'm just hoping my mom doesn't break anything by accident," Kelsi yawned, leaning against him and closing her eyes. "If I can't get into my room because of broken glass or collapsed doors, I'm evicting her out of hers."

Troy stood up and stretched. "I have to get going. Thanks for dinner, Kelsi."

"What time is it, anyway?" Gabi asked, moving over to occupy the space Troy had left.

Sharpay glanced at her watch. "Around ten o'clock."

"My mom's probably expecting me." Gabi looked at Troy like a lost puppy. "I'm tired. Carry me home."

He shrugged in reply. "If you say so." She shrieked in surprise as he lifted her off of the ground.

"Will someone get the door, please?" Troy asked. "I'm not used to carrying elephants around."

"Hey!" Gabi hit his shoulder playfully as Sharpay walked over to the door and opened it for them.

"Bye!" Troy called, using his foot to close it.

Sharpay returned to the couch. "I'll be crying at their wedding," she muttered. Her signature smirk met her face. "And yours."

Ryan and Kelsi looked at each other in surprise. "We just started dating," Ryan said. "Isn't it a little early to start planning our wedding?"

"It's never too early to plan ahead," she replied insistently. The ice princess took another look at her watch. "We'll both be grounded if we're not home soon."

Ryan shrugged and stood up.

"I'll walk you out," Kelsi offered, smiling. Ryan took her hand and helped her up, then together the three of them walked to the door.

Familiar giant butterflies started swooping around the composer's stomach. She told herself something her first piano teacher told her before recitals: "The butterflies are your friends. Embrace the butterflies."

When they got out the door, another kind of smile met Sharpay's lips. With or without Angie, she was a schemer.

"I'll get a cab," she called over her shoulder as she scurried off.

Ryan and Kelsi watched her half-trot down the street.

"Uhm," Kelsi wrung her hands awkwardly. "See you Monday?"

"I guess," he replied, smiling.

"The stars," she said suddenly.

Ryan gave her a puzzled look. "It's not as fun, teasing Gabi when she isn't even around."

Kelsi laughed, shaking her head. "No, I mean, look at the stars. They're...clearer. Clearer than they were last night."

He looked up and nodded in agreement.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

"Yeah," he whispered back. "You are."

Without another word, he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her again.

"Hate to interrupt," a voice came from the street. "But we've gotta get going." Sharpay grinned from the passenger seat.

Both of them blushed deeply. Ryan waved one more time then climbed into the back seat. "Bye!"

"Bye," the dazed playmaker returned. For the first time in a long time, she was smiling without even feeling it – smiling but barely aware of it.

As she turned off the lights, she hummed a tune that she had sung just as long ago.

"I've never had someone, as good for me as you..."

– FiN –

a/n: And that's the end of that! bow Watch out for the epilogues! I love you all!