AN: Thank you very much for the reviews and alerts! Any feedback is very much appreciated. Thank you in advance. :)
CUT TO:
EXT. THE CABIN
RYAN and KELSI drive up a snow-laden driveway in a modest but attractive rental car. RYAN turns off the car, taking the keys and putting them in his pocket. He turns to KELSI.
RYAN: We're finally here.
KELSI: (Whispering) It's beautiful.
Slowly, the two get out of the car and walk towards the front steps. As they near one another, KELSI slips on a patch of ice. RYAN steps forward to catch her. As he does, they look into each other's eyes and smile. Holding hands, they continue to walk to the door. RYAN is about to knock on the door when SHARPAY throws the door open.
SHARPAY: (Shouting happily) Ry, Kels, you made it!
SHARPAY hugs both of them before grabbing their hands and pulling them into the living room. In the living room, GABRIELLA, TROY, CHAD, and TAYLOR stand up to greet RYAN and KELSI. RYAN shakes hands with TROY and CHAD before hugging Taylor. KELSI hugs TAYLOR, TROY, and CHAD.
GABRIELLA: (Hugging RYAN) What took you guys so long? We were beginning to get worried.
KELSI: (Hugging TROY) Ugh, it's a long story.
CHAD: Hey, we have plenty of time. C'mon, share.
RYAN: Actually, it's kind of a short one. Flight got delayed. We sat around the airport for two hours until the next flight departed, explaining why we're a tad late.
TROY chuckles.
TROY: A tad?
RYAN chuckles and shrugs apologetically.
GABRIELLA: Well, we're just glad you guys made it here safely.
RYAN: (Turning towards SHARPAY) Hey, sis, I should probably bring our things inside. Which room are Kelsi and I staying in?
SHARPAY: (Thinking) Let's see…Troy and Gabriella are staying in room # 2 and Chad and Taylor are staying in room #3. Ryan, you'll stay with me in room #1, and Kelsi…you can choose who to share a room with.
TAYLOR: With whom to share a room, you mean.
SHARPAY: (Rolling her eyes) Yale's made you more arrogant than ever, I see?
KELSI: (Quietly) Um, I'll stay with you and Ryan, if you don't mind.
SHARPAY: Fine. Just don't touch my things, got it?
KELSI nods eagerly.
RYAN: Well, okay, we'll go get our suitcases right now.
RYAN and KELSI exit holding hands.
TAYLOR: Speaking of our rooms, I'm pretty tired.
CHAD: Me too. Maybe we should go to bed now, and get up early in the morning for a full day of skiing and catching up?
TROY: Sounds good. We all definitely have a ton of catching up to do.
TROY and CHAD give each other a high-five before CHAD and TAYLOR exit.
GABRIELLA: (Yawning) Yeah, I'm exhausted too.
TROY takes GABRIELLA'S hand and starts to walk towards their room.
TROY and GABRIELLA: (Waving back) Night, Sharpay!
TROY and GABRIELLA exit.
SHARPAY: (Waving after them) Yeah, good night. (Calling after them) Be clean, by the way! Daddy doesn't like stains…of any type!
She gets no response from TROY and GABRIELLA and looks angrily in the direction of their room.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM #2
TROY and GABRIELLA enter the room, laughing softly.
GABRIELLA: But then you told him you wouldn't?
TROY: (Chuckling) Yep. He won't let me live it down. (Shaking his head) Professors.
GABRIELLA smiles and sits down on the bed, a reflective expression now on her face.
GABRIELLA: You know, even though we see each other every weekend, I miss those days when seeing you was a constant, when I knew every morning that I woke up I'd have seen you and laughed with you and kissed you another time before going back to sleep again.
TROY nods solemnly and sits beside her.
TROY: I know. As much as I love Berkeley, it's not the same as East High. My classes are great, and you already know how well my audition for the play went, but something is missing, and we both know what it is.
GABRIELLA smiles sadly.
TROY: It's like this little hole in my heart that only gets filled on those great two days away from school.
GABRIELLA chuckles.
GABRIELLA: Well, I'm just really glad that we're here together now. Getting to be with each other every day without interruption. And with all our friends. It's starting to feel like old times again, and I hope it stays that way for the entire vacation.
TROY: Me too. (Hesitantly) Although, there are some things that…I mean, not all change is bad…
GABRIELLA looks confused.
TROY: Well, I mean, there are some things about life now that can be different from East High in a good way. Or…maybe like East High, only enhanced.
GABRIELLA: (Laughing confusedly) You mean like being more independent? Or taking classes that actually interest us?
TROY: (Smiling) Well, yeah, for starters.
GABRIELLA looks into TROY'S eyes searchingly.
GABRIELLA: What's on your mind, Troy?
TROY opens his mouth, ready to speak, but no words form.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM #1
SHARPAY, RYAN, and KELSI enter the room. RYAN places his and SHARPAY'S suitcases at the bottom of the dresser. KELSI does the same with hers.
SHARPAY stands near the door, surveying the room.
SHARPAY: Hm. Unsatisfactory.
RYAN looks anxious and annoyed.
RYAN: What's unsatisfactory about it? It seems pretty nice to me.
SHARPAY: (Rolling her eyes) Ryan, open your eyes! There's no mirror above the dresser, the carpet is white—and it's after Labor Day—and the worst part: there's only one bed.
KELSI: I don't mind sleeping on the floor.
RYAN shakes his head.
RYAN: No, Kelsi. It's fine. I'll sleep on the floor.
SHARPAY: How about you both do?
RYAN and KELSI stare blankly at SHARPAY.
SHARPAY: (Defensively) What? I need plenty of space so each limb on my body gets its proper beauty sleep.
KELSI: (Quietly) Well, I guess that would be fine.
RYAN: No, Kelsi, you helped pay for this room too. (To SHARPAY) Come on, Sharpay. I brought a sleeping bag anyway, and Kelsi is small; she won't bother you.
SHARPAY: (Smirking) Oh? Would you know, Ryan?
RYAN: (Embarrassedly) Sharpay!
SHARPAY chuckles deviously before frowning again.
SHARPAY: Fine. Kelsi, I'll just warn you: I'm an erratic sleeper. I toss and turn like crazy. (Shrugging and smiling) I guess my body has its own dramatic instincts.
KELSI smiles unsurely.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM #2
TROY and GABRIELLA still sit next to each other on the bed.
GABRIELLA: It's okay, Troy. You can tell me whatever you want to; you know that.
TROY takes a deep breath.
TROY: I know. And that's part of my reason for what I'm about to say.
GABRIELLA: (Nervously) Yes?
TROY: I've been thinking lately that maybe we're ready to take the next step in our relationship.
GABRIELLA'S eyes widen.
TROY looks down at the ground.
TROY: I mean, only if we were both ready, but…(Looking up to GABRIELLA) I just wanted you to know that I'm ready when you are.
GABRIELLA looks surprised and uncertain, looking away from TROY unsurely.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM #3
TAYLOR and CHAD enter, stopping in their tracks immediately. TAYLOR'S face is of outrage, while CHAD is of worry.
TAYLOR: Only one bed?!
CHAD sighs.
TAYLOR: We paid the Evans family a pretty penny to room here, and all we get is one bed?
CHAD: Well, it's better than a hotel; that's for sure.
TAYLOR: I know. But…well, maybe I should have roomed with someone else.
CHAD laughs slyly.
CHAD: Think you won't be able to control yourself around me in this little room with only one bed?
TAYLOR scoffs and smiles.
TAYLOR: Oh, no, that won't be a problem at all. Controlling myself around you will be as easy as that Russian Literature final. On which I got a 98.9%, by the way.
CHAD raises his eyebrows and smirks.
CHAD: Well, I haven't had as much time to study lately.
TAYLOR: (Suspiciously) Yeah?
CHAD: Yeah, well. You know, the girls at U of A can't get enough of me.
TAYLOR lets out a short, mocking chortle.
CHAD: (Defensively) Hey, what's that laugh supposed to mean?
TAYLOR: (Laughing to herself) Nothing. Nothing. Nothing at all.
CHAD: (Angrily) Yeah? Well, I don't see you up here with a boyfriend.
TAYLOR scoffs and walks towards the bed, lowering her suitcase down atop it.
CHAD approaches her.
CHAD: That wasn't an answer.
TAYLOR: There wasn't a question.
CHAD smiles.
CHAD: Do you have a boyfriend?
TAYLOR hesitates and begins unpacking her suitcase indifferently.
TAYLOR: What does it matter?
CHAD: Just curious.
TAYLOR: (Offhandedly) Well, it's none of your business.
CHAD shakes his head and grabs TAYLOR'S suitcase. TAYLOR gasps as CHAD chuckles. TAYLOR attempts to pry the suitcase out of his hands but he runs to the opposite end of the room.
TAYLOR: Chad, what's your deal? Put it down!
CHAD: Answer the question!
TAYLOR: Chad, you're acting like a 5-year-old. I thought college was supposed to mature people!
CHAD: (Tauntingly) That's not the right thing to say if you want your suitcase back!
TAYLOR begins to smile in spite of herself.
TAYLOR: Fine. If you are really so determined to pry into my private life, yes, I do in fact have a boyfriend.
CHAD'S eyes widen as he puts the suitcase down slowly.
CHAD: You do?
TAYLOR: Why is that so hard to believe?
CHAD shrugs.
TAYLOR: Thought I'd still be pining after you? 6th months after the break-up?
CHAD: No, I didn't think that! I just…well, with your studies and all, I thought you wouldn't want the distraction.
TAYLOR rolls her eyes and gives CHAD a half-smile.
TAYLOR: Nice save, Chad.
CHAD chortles.
CHAD: Well, I guess if you have a boyfriend, and I have several girls I'm seeing…there's no reason why we can't sleep in the same bed and be perfectly fine.
TAYLOR nods confidently.
TAYLOR: I concur. We're just friends now. There's no reason it should be awkward.
CHAD sticks his hand out.
CHAD: Friends?
TAYLOR: (Shaking his hand firmly) Friends.
C.U. on their handshake.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM #1
C.U. on the wall clock, reading 11:30 PM.
C.U. on SHARPAY'S sleeping face. She wears a pastel pink eye mask and her hair is set in rollers. Her mouth is wide open as she snores loudly.
C.U. on KELSI'S face, on the other side of the bed. Her eyes are wide and nervous, darting over to SHARPAY and then back to the camera.
She then sits up in the bed and looks to SHARPAY. Her hand lingers over SHARPAY'S shoulders unsurely before she sighs and rests her hand on her knee. She then quickly taps SHARPAY on the shoulder.
KELSI: (Whispering) Sharpay?
SHARPAY continues to snore.
KELSI looks anxious. She stares ahead the wall blankly. She looks to SHARPAY once more before lying back down on her side. She looks down to the ground, where RYAN is sleeping in a dark blue sleeping bag.
C.U. RYAN'S face as he sleeps. He appears peaceful and in a deep sleep.
KELSI watches him and smiles affectionately.
She then suddenly falls out of bed. She looks up to the bed, alarmed, and sees SHARPAY stretched out across its entirety. She stands up and nudges SHARPAY gently. SHARPAY does not rouse.
With difficulty, KELSI crawls back into bed. She lies uncomfortably with SHARPAY'S arms around her. She inches to the edge of the bed and closes her eyes. She is then pushed out of the bed once more and stays on the ground for a few seconds. Standing up, she approaches RYAN.
She nudges him softly, and he awakes.
RYAN: (Scared) Kelsi? Is something wrong?
KELSI: (Whispering) No, no…just Sharpay.
RYAN: What else is new?
KELSI chuckles quietly.
KELSI: She's knocked me out of the bed a couple times now. I was wondering if I could sleep with you.
RYAN smirks and raises his eyebrows. KELSI laughs embarrassedly, realizing what she said.
KELSI: I mean, can I sleep in your sleeping bag with you?
RYAN laughs.
RYAN: Yeah, of course.
KELSI: Thank you. I owe you a big one.
KELSI immediately realizes what she said this time and squeezes her eyes shut in embarrassment as RYAN laughs.
KELSI: Wow, I don't know where my mind is tonight.
RYAN: I have an idea.
KELSI smiles and blushes. RYAN moves to the left side of the sleeping bag, allowing KELSI to climb in.
RYAN: Wow, I never knew how tight this bag was.
KELSI: (Awkwardly) Heh. Yeah, it is.
The two stare into each other's eyes awkwardly. KELSI then puts her hand on RYAN'S face and pulls him in for a kiss. He kisses her back and wraps his arms around her back.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM #2
TROY and GABRIELLA lay in bed together. GABRIELLA lies on her side, on the far edge of the left side of the bed as TROY sleeps stomach-down on the right.
C.U. on GABRIELLA'S face. She looks troubled and unsure.
TROY suddenly rouses and looks over to GABRIELLA.
TROY: Gabriella? Are you still awake?
GABRIELLA: (Without turning around to face TROY) Yeah.
TROY: Is everything okay?
GABRIELLA: Troy, you are a virgin, aren't you?
TROY: Yeah, of course! (Hesitantly) And you are too, right?
GABRIELLA: Of course!
TROY: Is that why you're awake?
GABRIELLA: No, no. I'm just still on California time, I guess.
She turns around to face TROY and smiles slightly.
GABRIELLA: Go back to sleep, sweetheart. I'm fine.
TROY: Are you sure?
GABRIELLA: Yeah. I'm starting to get tired finally.
TROY smiles and gives GABRIELLA a soft kiss.
TROY: Good night, Gabriella.
GABRIELLA: Good night, Troy.
GABRIELLA turns back on her side as TROY wraps an arm around her. Her expression returns to one of uncertainty.
CUT TO:
INT. ROOM #1
RYAN and KELSI are kissing more passionately, with RYAN now atop KELSI. KELSI begins to unbutton his shirt, but he pulls both his lips and her hand away.
KELSI: What's wrong, Ryan?
RYAN: Well…Sharpay's right over there.
KELSI: She's in a deep sleep; believe me.
RYAN: I know, but…It doesn't seem right.
KELSI: Because of Sharpay or something else?
RYAN looks confused.
RYAN: Sharpay. What would be a different reason?
KELSI: I don't know.
RYAN pauses.
RYAN: (Slightly defensively) I don't think you'd like to have sex for the first time with your brother or sister in the room, if you had one.
KELSI: I know. I know. I'm sorry.
RYAN: And when it does happen, I want it to be romantic and…planned. (Hesitantly) What about you?
KELSI: (Apologetically) I do too. I guess I just got caught up in the moment.
KELSI pauses.
KELSI: I guess it's good you didn't, though.
RYAN: (Quickly) Well, I did, Kelsi…I was having a great time…I just…
KELSI: No, it's fine, Ryan. We should go to sleep.
KELSI turns on her side and shuts her eyes. RYAN stares at her back guiltily before sighing and closing his own eyes.
(To be continued)