Author's Note: I lied. I'm going to update before I leave, but then I won't update until I get back (or just to start another chapter). I personally like this one because it's definately longer, and I like the ending when Sharpay comes in. Happy reading!
Chapter Four: The Weirdness Starts
Ryan had to tell someone about what happened between Haylie and Tara (or what he thought went down), and since everyone went home after school, he knew Troy would be around, and he was right when he spotted Troy sitting outside his father's office, doing a piece of homework.
Troy looked up to see Ryan standing there, and he smiled.
"Hey, Ryan. What's up?" Troy asked, taking his backpack and coat from the chair so the blonde-haired boy could sit down next to him.
Ryan sat down in the chair (which was very uncomfortable, but he guessed all hallway chairs were like this), and looked at the Wildcat captain.
"Do you remember at lunch, when Tara came over, and asked to talk to Haylie?" Ryan asked, and Troy nodded.
"Yeah, I do, Ryan. We were all there."
"Well, when Haylie got done talking to Tara, I noticed some strange marks on her arm, and when I questioned if Tara did anything to her, she explained to me that she just ran into a locker, but I'm starting to wonder if Tara did that to her. Most likely, she did." Ryan explained, and Troy raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure she didn't just purposely hurt herself, Ryan? I know over time, you can be a bit protective--"
"In case you didn't notice, I need to be. Because after what she been through, I just want her to have a normal senior year. Or, rather, end of the year." Ryan pointed out, and Troy shook his head.
"We all want her too, but there's been so drama lately. Between you guys, I mean." Troy awnsered, and Ryan rolled his eyes.
"I know that...I'm just saying." Ryan commented, and Troy gave him a smile.
That's when Coach Bolton stuck his head outside, and glanced at the two boys.
"Oh...I was wondering who you were talking to, Troy."
"Just Ryan, dad." Troy stated, and Coach Bolton gave his son a half-smile.
"Well, finish up, because I want to get going."
With that said, he closed the door, and Troy looked at Ryan.
"Father issues?" Ryan asked jokely, and Troy then rolled his own eyes, much like what Ryan does all the time.
"Yeah. He's been on my case since this summer when I didn't--well, you know what I'm talking about." Troy replied, and Rya nodded.
"I know." Ryan said, as he got up from the chair, and Troy smiled at him.
"Don't worry about Haylie, alright? Chances are she'll come around, and want to talk about it." Troy stated as he picked up his backpack and coat from the floor.
"Right." Ryan says shortly as he hoisted his backpack on his shoulder, and went on his way to the auditorium, and dug out his cellphone to call Haylie.
Before he could that, though, a number he didn't know popped up, and he pushed 'okay', and on the other line, a fit of giggles reached his ear, and he cringed as he held the phone a good feet away from his ear, but not far so he could ask, "Hello?"
"I'm sorry...I get nervous when I talk to people on the phone..." the voice, which Ryan could tell, was a girl, but the number, the name, and the face were nonexistant to him.
"Yes, well, who is this?" Ryan asked as he opened the doors to the auditorium, and wasn't surprised to see Sharpay not there, because, more or less, she was with Zeke.
"Did I forget to say my name? How silly...this is Tara Zimmerman." Tara replied, and Ryan almost dropped his cellphone on the carpeted floor, but he was grateful he didn't.
"How did you get my number?" he asked.
"Well, duh! You and your sister are part of the East High phonebook, right?" Tara asked.
East High did a phonebook for students who could contact each other, without the hassle of seeing them in school.
"Even if we were in the phonebook, I don't like random people calling me. Or Sharpay. If we don't know you well enough, then your considered a stranger to us." Ryan explained without getting scared.
Maybe he already was?
"Oh. I called because I wanted to ask you something."
"Make it quick." Ryan said as the double doors opened, and Sharpay walked in.
"Did you tell Haylie you were part of the famous musical sandcal?"
Upon hearing that statement, the cellphone made a soft thud on the stage floor, and Sharpay glanced at her brother, who was staring into space with an open-mouthed expression.
Sharpay sighed, and picked up his cellphone (blue, with the letters R and E on the back, her brother was not a fan of being fancy like she was), and said, "Whoever you are, don't call my brother again."
She clamped the cellphone shut, and placed it in Ryan's outreached hand, while saying, "You should be more careful. If mother or father knew if you almost dropped your cellphone, they'd go nuts!"
But, Ryan didn't hear her statement.
All what was ringing in his ears at the moment was Tara's stinging statement of the winter musical.
Yes, he was part of the sandcal, but that was mostly Sharpay. He had the minor role of the henchman, and had to carry news to Sharpay about what Troy and Gabriella did.
Now, it was barely reminded, and everyone was friends.
Of course, Ryan never did tell Haylie about the winter musical because she didn't need to hear his side of the story, and Sharpay's side of the story was more effective than his would ever be.
"Are you alright, Ryan? It seems like you just seen a ghost or something." Sharpay said, and Ryan shook his head, snapping out of his trance.
"Um..it's nothing. Let's just go."
But, as the twins walked to the parking lot, he wondered if Tara would tell Haylie all about his part in the winter musical.
