Hello again, readers! I apologise for Chapter 10's sloppiness, but I tried to make this one better. Hope you enjoy!
Checklist: Sharpay, Kelsi, Zeke, Taylor, The Adults, Troy and Ryan. Who have we got left?
Recap
Kelsi opened the auditorium door, and walked inside. Her thoughts were still on her story, and she was disappointed that the ending had turned out so lame. It wasn't very creative at all (A.N. I agree! The ending was just urgh
Sharpay was there, and her alone, arms folded, looking more vulnerable than ever. She opened her mouth to speak.
"I think . . . we need to talk."
"I'm serious. You can't tell anyone."
"Why shouldn't I? For all I know, you could have done it!"
"Kelsi, you can't seriously believe that!"
Kelsi placed her hands on her hips. "Tell me what's going on, now."
"Kelsi, nooo!" Sharpay moaned, placing her manicured hands on her head. "It was accident! I didn't do it, I swear! But if I told you who it was – they'd kill me – it was bad enough what that brat came . . . Candi doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut . . ."
"Candi? Candi broke it?!" Kelsi said in shock. Why would she do that?
"No, you dipstick," screeched Sharpay. "She was just there, like I was!"
Silence suddenly came to the large room, as a new light dawned on Kelsi.
If Sharpay wouldn't tell the whole story, Candi would, Kelsi was sure of it. She ask her tomorrow. Right now, Kelsi just wanted to get home.
But something was bugging her.
Like, a lot. What was it?
"I've said too much." Whispered Sharpay, "Again . . ."
"Yep!" said Kelsi cheerfully, "So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to find Candi."
"No. You can't. Kelsi, noooooooo!"
Sharpay kept moaning behind her, but Kelsi wasn't listening. She was trying to figure out what was bugging her.
She ran all the way out of School, it was after school, so no-one was really around. She quickly made her way home got was in her bedroom before she finally clicked what it was.
She was supposed to go to Candi's house after school. She said she would. She as good as promised.
Suddenly felt so, so guilty. Candi always did exactly what she said she'd do. Kelsi tried to phone, but she couldn't find Candi's number, which was annoyingly convenient. Argh!
It was getting late now, there was no point in going. At the same moment this thought shot through her head, her cell rang.
"Heeeeel-loooooo?"
"Hey, it's Ryan." Kelsi was so shocked, she actually took the phone away from her ear to look at it. How did he get her number?
"Oh, hi Ryan."
"I hope you don't mind me calling, I got your number from Sharpay, who got it from Gabriella, who got it from Troy, who got it from you, I think."
Damn straight! Of course she'd given it to Troy, he was her friend. What right did he have to give it to her?! Gabriella, the major back-stabber?
And what right did Gabriella have to pass it on? How rude!!!
Seething, Kelsi tried to keep the anger from her voice as she said, "Oh, I don't mind. After I quit the show, we haven't had much time to talk."
"I know, that's why I wanted to ask if you wanted to come over, Sharpay isn't around. Probably stalking Troy."
"Huh? Oh sure." In any other situation, Kelsi would have laughed at the joke, but she was too busy wondering if she should tell Ryan where Sharpay was, if she was even still there.
She decided against it, said her goodbyes, and got ready to leave; she put on something decent, grabbed her jacket, cell and keys.
She knew her Mom would say no if she asked, she'd think it was 'too late' to go out. So what did she do? Didn't ask her, of course, just told her as she was walking out the door!
"Mom, I'm going to a friends house, see ya, bye!" The front door slammed.
Moments passed as Mrs Nielsen figured out what just happened. Five minutes later, she realised.
"What the hell . . . ?!" she exclaimed in shock.
HSM HSM HSM HSM HSM"Oh hello honey, you must be one of Sharpay's girls. She's not here, but you're free to go up and wait, she should be home from school soon."
Mrs Evan talked easily and steadily, but the word seemed to tumble out of her mouth; it was obvious she talked a lot.
Kelsi opened her mouth to correct the woman, she was here for Ryan, not Sharpay, but Mrs Evans was already gone.
The house was very big and luscious, but cosy and the same time, old-fashioned but modern. It was an awesome house, to be brief.
It wasn't hard to find the stairs, and Kelsi took her time looking for Ryan. As she looked at the paintings at photos on the walls, she listened to a beautiful tune being played on the piano. There must be a talented pianist around. Maybe Mr Evans?
Eventually, she got to the to the first floor, and decided to be quicker looking for Ryan, all the time hearing the music.
When she finally got to the room he was in, she found that he was the one playing! She stood at the door, listening in awe.
He played on, not playing a wrong note or hesitating once. When it came to the end of the piece, Kelsi wondered if she was better than him. People usually called her when they wanted a pianist . . . but did anyone know of Ryan's talents?
Kelsi cleared her throat, and Ryan whipped around, blushing a little.
"Oh, I . . . I was just . . . I mean, Sharpay isn't here, so . . ."
"It was beautiful, Ryan." Kelsi said softly, and Ryan stood up slowly, smiling, and took a step towards her. Kelsi would have instinctively taken a step back, but she felt sort of . . . mesmerised.
She didn't know anyone who appreciated music like that like she did.
They locked eyes, but didn't speak, fearing it would ruin the moment. . . and then Kelsi suddenly felt uncomfortable.
"Anyway," she said quickly, and they looked away from each other, smiling.
"So . . ." Ryan cleared his throat. Did you work on that story you started?"
"Troy Bolton meets his match? Oh, yeah. I did another story too . . . but I don't want you to read it."
"Why?"
"Um . . . it's lame." Kelsi lied, not wanting to say it was about him. Ryan grinned and said,
"Can I see the book?"
"Uh huh," Kelsi said, and told him which one to read. They sat on the sofa, and Ryan called one of the housekeepers and got them to bring some 'snacks'.
The housekeeper brought nachos with sauce, crisps, jelly babies (A.N. which I'm eating right now, they're very tasty), chocolates, cookies, gingerbread, Turkish delight, bagels with butter, and croissants.
As for drinks . . . don't even get started on those. A jug of water, fizzy drinks, fruit juice, and something that Kelsi suspected to have a bit of alcohol in it, or it could just be wine.
"Oh my . . ." exclaimed Kelsi, looking at the vast amount of 'snacks'. Ryan looked up from reading and grinned,
"Oh yeah . . . they always do that so I have 'enough'. I'm not the one who trains them that way – it's Sharpay who always wants to binge."
Kelsi giggles and had a red jelly baby. A few moments passed, and Ryan read contently.
In the end, Kelsi got up and went to the piano. She read the music like it was a book, and knew that it was a nice piece of music. Suddenly wanting to try it out, she sat down and played it.
"Urgh, I'm so out of practice, my fingers don't move as fast as they used to." muttered Kelsi. Suddenly, there were footsteps of someone walking down the corridor, and they called,
"Ryan, stop playing that frickin' piano! It's giving me a - " then Sharpay reached the door and saw Kelsi.
The look that Kelsi received must have been the most scared look anyone had ever given to her, especially as Kelsi wasn't scary.
" . . . headache?" finished Kelsi. Sharpay just ran to her room, looking bewildered. Ryan mumbled 'what's wrong with her' under his breath, before laughing out loud.
"Which bit are you up to?" asked Kelsi, getting up from the piano to peer over his shoulder.
"Dad, can't I see that check?" said Ryan reaching for it. His Dad flinched away and hissed at him not to touch it.
"This is just too weird."
"That's what happens when you blink. There are . . . side-effects . . ."
"You're telling me! My Dad is singing lullabies to paper, and won't even talk to me. Not to mention my Mom, who's acting like a loony. I wish I wasn't here!"
"Hey! You're not supposed to be reading that one!" said Kelsi grabbing the book, but Ryan held on.
"Please lemme read, it's great!"
"It's crap," said Kelsi, "Let go!" Ryan let go with one hand and grabbed Kelsi's arm. In surprise, Kelsi shook his arm off, accidentally letting the book slide from her grip.
"Oh, why thank you, I didn't think you were going to let go." said Ryan, with a cheeky grin. He's cute when he does that, thought Kelsi, and immediately blushed, like she was scared he'd read her thought or something.
"You're cute when you blush," said Ryan absent-mindedly, going back to reading. Kelsi didn't know what to say, but that blush just went deeper. Did he even know what he just said?
Oh well. Wandering around, Kelsi found another music sheet. Well, she though, getting back up to scratch with my piano skills is something to do, at least.
HSM HSM HSM HSM HSM"So, what sort of stories do you write?" Kelsi asked Ryan, as he walked Kelsi home. He said it was because was bored, but Kelsi didn't believe him.
"I don't write stories as such, I write plays. Duh, I'm an actor!" he grinned, and Kelsi smiled.
"What did you think of my stories?" she asked, apprehensive. She was sure he'd read the one about him! Ryan started to chuckle.
"They were all really funny, you sure do have a thing for humour. Though saying that, one thing you need to improve on is your descriptions. There's a lot of action and dialogue, but you don't set the scene."
"That's true," said Kelsi in thought. They didn't speak again until they'd reached her house, so Kelsi thanked him and said goodbye.
"Kelsi, where the hell have to been? You just walked out the house, ad didn't answer your phone when I called . . ."
Mrs Nielsen clutched her hair with fright and frustration. Kelsi stood still, fearing the worst.
"What is wrong with you? You've been acting weird all week! Is . . . is something wrong?"
"Nope. Nothing ever is." shrugged Kelsi, who quickly rushed to her room before her mother said anything else.
HSM HSM HSM HSM HSM"Think, think . . . ." Kelsi muttered to herself. It was only when Ryan had told her that she realised what her main problem was.
She was crap at writing descriptions! So what was she supposed to do?
"Maybe I need some inspiration." Kelsi wondered aloud, so she got up and moved to the plant pot on her window sill. The flowers were very beautiful, red, with streaks of fuchsia and . . . .
Wait.
"I think I just got my inspiration," muttered Kelsi. She snapped open Her navy writing book, and wrote about the first person she thought of.
Martha's Garden
Martha always appreciated the small things in life. Maybe that was because she had nothing else to appreciate, or because she had a big heart.
Martha's garden was beautiful. Her mother had kept it that way, and now Martha would make sure it stayed that way.
All sorts of plantss grew in it; tall roses, in deep scarlet, light pink, and creamy white. Some of them had already bloomed, opening their petals to the light that was the sun; others still had a few more days left to go.
Lilies, Freesias, Lotus', Pansies, Tulips, all of the flowers in the garden swayed gently with the soft breeze that wove itself in and out the flowers.
Not to mention the small shrubs in the corner, or the herbs that grew against the garden fence.
The Daisies were Martha's favorite. It was her mother's name and favorite flower. There were so many different types of daisies. 'Just like people,' Daisy Cox would say to her daughter.
Bellis. That was the name of the common daisy, the one with white petals and a yellow centre. They had a pot of those in the living room.
Sometimes it got confusing. Bellis was a type of daisy, which was a type of flower. But they were many types of bellis' too.
Bellis Perennis was the English Daisy, also called the Common Daisy or Lawn Daisy.
Bellis Annua was an Annual Daisy and Bellis Sylvestris was the Southern Daisy.
Oh yes, Martha knew a lot about flowers. She knew she was going to be a florist when she grew up.
That was before. Before her mother died.
Now, only a few months later, Martha neglected her garden.
The flowers, who weren't getting the care they needed, slowly withered away like Martha herself, each petal floating over the garden fence to a happier place.
The garden was no longer beautiful. The secrets that the flowers held between their petals had long gone and the weeds were thriving, choking the flowers that still survived.
And the pot of Bellis'?
Dead.
Just like Daisy Cox.
Martha Cox lo longer cared for the Garden of Flowers.
She no longer cared for anything anymore.
Kelsi sat up, reading over her work. She hoped it was descriptive enough. It was certainly sad enough! Martha's mother died, for goodness sake!
God Forbid, thought Kelsi, her eyes wide, and she suddenly felt apprehensive. Maybe she shouldn't have done a story like that about someone she knew.
Leaping up, she snatched her cell out of her jacket pocket (it was in there from when she went to see Ryan, remember?) and called Ryan.
"Hello?"
Kelsi cut off the call, and slammed the phone down. Her cell rang but she didn't answer it. Dammit!
Why was Sharpay always around when she wasn't wanted?!
Sorry it took a long time; it was hard to get access to the computer. Hopefully, next Chapter will be up ASAP.
Thanks for the reviews, you guys! Of course, I would love it if you left more for this chapter . . . (smiles hopefully)
Also, I have a fairly-new Oneshot out called Too Many Excuses. If you like this story, I think you'll like that one too!
Star x x x