A/N:

Welcome to my first fan fiction, this one is about Jason and Kelsi from High School Musical. I personally thought they were a cute couple in the second film and wanted to explore the possibility of them getting together. So lets go with the East High gang as they're all winding down the last years of college and university to see what happens to this sweet couple...

warning to the reader: this is a full romance, meant to be read from beginning to end as it will be long so if you like these first few chapters, there will be lots more to come! it will be a few chapters before we get to the romance, but when we get there, we get there! This fan fiction certainly earns its M rating for sexual content and coarse language. there will be a warning at the top of the chapter for explicit scenes. Reviews Welcome, we're all here to improve :)

Author has no rights to High School Musical and receives no compensation for these writings, all writings are purely fictional and any correlation with real events is coincidental.

Enjoy!


Five Years After Graduation

In the heart of Albuquerque, the sun beat down on the bustling auto shop, where the clang of wrenches and the hum of engines created a symphony of hard work. Amidst the controlled chaos of West End Classics, Jason's torque wrench clicked with precision as he tightened the final bolt on a 1972 Plymouth that had been giving him trouble all week.

"Alright, lets see if that did the trick," he muttered over the block as he motioned to Dylan to fire it up. The engine roared to life beneath his calloused hands, a beautiful sound that finally rung through the shop, the success resonating deep within his soul. He grinned, wiping a smear of grease across his forehead. Another car saved, another day well spent in the heart of his passion.

Jason, at twenty-two, was already a man on the move. He'd bypassed college, diving straight into an apprenticeship and finding his place amidst the tools and engines. High school hadn't been his thing, but here surrounded by the tools of his trade and the comforting hum of a well-tuned engine, he was in his element. He'd excelled, already earning two ASE certifications. While his friends were finishing university, Jason was gunning for the ASE Automobile & Light Truck certifications, a move that would launch his career. He wasn't just keeping up – he was outpacing the pack.

In a moment of reflection as he listened carefully to the tune of the engine he realized he was living proof that success didn't always follow a conventional path. No one had expected him to get this far, but he was exactly where he wanted to be. He glanced over at the two other apprentices, Luke and Dylan, their faces mirroring his own quiet triumph. Luke, transplanted from Amarillo, shared Jason's passion for all things automotive, while Dylan, the greenest of the bunch, soaked up knowledge like a sponge.

"Hot damn!" Luke cheered in his signature southern drawl, "it's about time you quit foolin' around and got this thing workin' again."

Jason threw a rag at him and shrugged. "I didn't see you helping much, Perry," he said as he pulled his tools out and closed the hood.

"That '45 Chevy wasn't goin' to fix itself," he gloated.

Jason only wished he knew as much about antique cars as his Texan friend, but to his credit when it came to electrical, he ran circuits around Luke all day long. With a shared laugh and a renewed sense of purpose, the trio dove back into the work of the day, each turn of the wrench bringing them closer to another satisfied customer and another day well spent in the heart of their shared passion. Nearby, Dylan struggled with a stubborn oil filter. Jason strolled over, The easy camaraderie in the shop evident.

"Here, let me show you a trick," Jason said, demonstrating a simple technique. Dylan's face lit up with understanding. As the day wore on, the banter flowed, punctuated by the satisfying sounds of progress. Jason, surrounded by good friends and the work he loved, couldn't imagine being anywhere else.


Soft piano music echoed through the auditorium as delicate fingers danced over the keys with years of practiced precision. The tune was serious and somber, carrying heavy weight in each note. As it lifted to a crescendo, the melody faltered, its creator's heart sinking at the imperfect pattern of notes before her.

"It's still not right," Kelsi muttered to herself as she slammed a few disjointed notes on the piano. She had been seated to the grand piano in the main theatre of the Juilliard School since nine that morning and was starting to feel it her back. Standing to walk around and stretch, she heard the main door open and Ryan walked in with Tammy.

"Thought I heard the sound of a frustrated pianist in here," he called as they walked down the aisle of the auditorium.

"Hey, guys," she murmured as she paced and tapped her pencil against her lips.

"Uh oh," Ryan said as he hopped down into the band pit, "better steer clear, she's thinking hard." He looped an arm around Tammy's waist to pull her close.

"Anything we can do to help you, love?" Tammy asked, her British accent along with gentle genuine concern gave her a motherly vibe even though they were the same age.

"Just this song for the winter show, I've been at it all morning and I'm getting nowhere!" Kelsi huffed as she slumped back down at the piano.

"It's okay, Kelsi," Ryan said, offering a comforting hand on her shoulder, "you'll get there, you always do, and you've got the whole summer still!" She patted his hand in quiet thanks for his support and went back to her playing.

"Come on, love," Tammy said as she pulled Ryan along by the hand, "we best leave her to it. You've still got to shower and pack before home time."

"You mean 'we' right?" Ryan said as he followed her towards the door.

Kelsi snickered to herself, they were such a cute couple. She had thought Ryan might have had some feelings for her when he had asked her to prom back in high school, but it turned out they had only become the best of friends, bonding over their love of theatre and their passion for the final show. Turning back to the piano and her plight with the sheet music before her, she slammed away at the keys for another half an hour before it occurred to her that she too needed to get ready for her flight home to Albuquerque the next morning. That evening, as she made sure she had everything packed, she got a call from Martha, checking in that Kelsi was still coming home.

"I can't wait, Martha!" Kelsi said, flopping down onto her bed after zipping her suitcase closed, "I can't believe this is the first time in three years I've been able to come home. I was not expecting this program to be so intense!"

Martha giggled on the other end of the line, her anticipation of her best friend coming home filled her with infectious joy. "I can't wait to see you, Kelsi, everyone is going to be back for the summer this year! Have you got a job lined up?"

"Yeah actually, I'm heading back to Baum's music store," she answered, "with my experience at Juilliard, Spencer asked if I'd consider teaching lessons and I said yes!"

"That's fantastic! Hope you'll have time to come by the studio too, we've got an awesome hot yoga class every other Tuesday and Friday planned for the summer."

Kelsi sighed and laid back on her bed, the jitters of the palpable excitement barely allowing her to lie down. "For sure, I'd love that. Well I'm off to bed, early flight tomorrow, see you soon, girl!"


Jason's cell phone rang as he stepped out of the shower, an early shift in the books and an afternoon basketball game on the roster with the guys.

"Hey, Chad, what's up?"

"Hey, Jason," Chad's voice buzzed through the phone, "you're still coming for ball today right?"

"Yeah for sure, man," Jason said impatiently as he slipped into his shorts and t-shirt, "why wouldn't I be?"

"Just wanted to check if you were working late and if we'd need to replace you on short notice again."

Jason huffed and struggled into his socks as he held the phone with his shoulder. "Hey, I said I was sorry for the last two games, geez."

"Alright, we'll see you at the game then," Chad said with a chuckle, "you down for some pool after too?"

"I don't know, man. I might just have the basketball game in me today."

"C'mon Jase, all the girls are coming. Everyone's finally back from school tonight! Come out for a beer, live a bit, you're always working."

"Alright, I'll think about it, see you guys soon." He hung up and grabbed his gym bag to head for the door. He had planned to relax tonight after the game with the guys, but the thought of an evening out with friends was tempting despite his demanding work hours. He turned back and threw an extra polo shirt and jeans in his bag, just in case he had it in him to go shoot some pool as well. His mind couldn't help but wonder about what Chad had said. Everyone is home from college. Could that really mean everyone?


Kelsi stepped off the plane and made her way to the baggage claim, tapping her foot as she waited for her luggage. The eagerness to see her family propelled her steps quickly to the exit once she finally had her suitcases. She stepped out into the sunshine of Albuquerque, familiar feelings flooding her body as she breathed in the dry desert air.

It's so good to to be home! she thought, spreading her arms wide and absorbing the sunshine despite the arid breeze. She lowered her arms and came back to reality, having stepped out for a minute to enjoy the sun. Looking around the parking lot, she went through the options of vehicle her dad could be driving in her head. Quickly scanning across the sea of cars, she saw the one. A Colorado Avalanche hat popped out of the drivers seat of a dark green F150 as the driver stood on the running boards to get a better vantage point to look around. She nearly jumped out of her skin at the familiar sight of her dad and grabbed her suitcases.

Kelsi ran the last few steps to jump into his waiting arms. "Dad!" she exclaimed as he pulled her into a tight embrace. "I missed you so much!"

He received her greeting with a tear welling in his eye. "I've missed you too, K!" he replied as he set her down on the ground. She always seemed so small next to her dad, but Kelsi looked back up at him with the same beaming smile she always did, like he would always be her hero. "Well let's get going, Mom's waiting at home and she'll kill us if we hang around here when she's putting out a spread." Steven took Kelsi's bags and stowed them in the pan while she hopped in the passenger seat. "How was the flight?" he asked as he pulled himself into the drivers seat.

"It was good, a bit of turbulence over the mountains as usual," Kelsi replied. As Steven turned the key to bring the truck to life, a slight squeal floated out of the engine and Kelsi shot him a look.

"Have you still not replaced that A/C belt?" she asked. Steven shrugged his response as Kelsi pulled out her phone, the messages she'd received while on the plane finally buzzing through.

"Uh oh, the gang is already after you, huh?" Steven asked as they barrelled down the highway towards home.

"Yeah," Kelsi said as she read through, "the girls want to know if I'm up for a drink after dinner, a little welcome home with everyone being back for the summer."

"Sounds like fun," Steven replied, "I'm sure your friends are eager to see you, but you better say hi to your mom first." They laughed together at Kelsi's stories from college as they turned the corner onto their street, a wide lane lined with mature desert palms. Kelsi tensed in giddy excitement at the familiar landscape around her, a far cry from the bustling concrete jungle of Manhattan. The houses here were spaced farther apart than in most suburbs, offering a sense of privacy and spaciousness, each with a generous front yard. Their house itself was a modest two-story affair, with a covered front porch where a double swing sat swaying gently. Home. They hopped out and Steven went to retrieve her bags while Kelsi made the quick trip up to the heavy wood door that swung open with a loud greeting.

"K! You're home!" Dr. Lina Nielsen threw her arms around her daughter and hugged her close, "I'm so glad you could make it!" Kelsi returned her mother's embrace and laughed at the tight squeeze that forced the air out of her.

"Hey, Mom! It's good to be home!" She said as she backed away and followed through the door. The familiar scent of the place being freshly cleaned as her mom always kept it made her feel right at home again.

"How was the plane? You didn't only bring a backpack did you?" Lina asked, with a raised eyebrow at the bag as Kelsi slung it to the floor.

"No, Dad's getting my bags," she replied with a quick glance back out the door, as he mounted the steps with Kelsi's suitcases in hand.

"We made it!" Steven exclaimed with a triumphant march through the door, setting the bags down inside the living room. "What's for dinner?"

Lina led the way to the kitchen where the scent of her cooking was already filling the house.


The laughter around the table dwindled as Kelsi finished telling a behind the scenes story from the production of Moulin Rouge last year that had her parents in stitches.

"What the audience doesn't know can't hurt them!" she said before she finished the last bite of her dinner and relaxed back in her chair, her mother's cooking having satiated the homesickness she had been harbouring for months. Lina stood to clear the plates while Steven went to brew the coffee and tea.

"Have you decided if you're going out with your friends tonight, K?" Lina asked, "you're welcome to take the car if you need."

Kelsi stood and went to retrieve her phone from her purse. After reading the messages she hurried back to help clear the table. "I guess I am because Sharpay just texted saying she'll be here in twenty minutes."

"Then you go on and get ready," Lina said with a wave of her hand, "I got this, K. Enjoy your first night home with your friends."

"Thanks, Mom," she replied and met her dad by the island to kiss his cheek before running upstairs to change. She pulled on a pair of skinny black jeans and a vibrant green top, one that matched her cream beanie hat perfectly. A few tricks with her eyeliner and some hair serum made her look like she hadn't just gotten off a plane, completing her look as the doorbell rang announcing the arrival of her friends. She grabbed her purse and ran down the steps to open the front door.

Martha stood on the other side and squealed in excitement. "Kelsi! I'm so happy to see you!" She wrapped her in a hug and waved to Kelsi's parents who had appeared in the hallway. "Hi Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen!"

"Hi Martha," Lina said with a wave, "you girls have a great night! Where are you headed?"

"The pool hall," Martha answered, "we're meeting the boys there. Come on, Kelsi, we better hurry!"

"Bye Mom, bye Dad!" Kelsi called over her shoulder as Martha pulled her down the porch steps towards Sharpay's bright pink convertible where the rest of her friends were waiting. Taylor and Gabriella waved from the back seat as Kelsi slid in beside them.

Taylor wrapped an arm around Kelsi's shoulders in a quick hug before she got her seatbelt on. "Welcome home, honey! We've missed you!"

"You too, girls!" Kelsi exclaimed, "How's Yale? How's Stanford?"

Sharpay turned the key and started up her convertible then waved her hand in dismissal. "Ah ah ah, there will be plenty of time to talk about school later. Tonight, it's all about kicking the summer off right, girls!"

The convertible cruised down Kelsi's street and headed for the highway, off for a fun night to start what could be an unforgettable summer.