Reunion

Jason's black Jeep Wrangler pulled into the familiar gravel lot of Slate Street Billiards, a cloud of dust swirling in its wake. The soft top was rolled back, exposing the four friends to the warm Albuquerque evening. Often the designated driver, he maneuvered through the packed parking lot.

"Think the girls are here yet?" Chad, riding shotgun, craned his neck to look around for Sharpay's iconic car.

"Nah, they're always late," Zeke grumbled from the backseat, stretching his long legs.

Troy, beside him, chuckled and elbowed him playfully. "Speak for yourself, Zeke. My girl's always on time. You're the one with the prima donna that takes forever to get ready."

Zeke shot back a retort, raising more crude peals of laughter to drift through the open top of the Jeep. The banter continued as Jason parked and turned the key, the purring of the well tuned V6 engine falling silent.

"Alright, guys, get your asses out of my rig," Jason said as he hopped out.

Chad was already halfway out the door. "Let's get a table and some drinks rolling!"

"Right behind you!" Zeke and Troy clambered out of the back, a playful scuffle ensuing as they raced towards the entrance.

Jason chuckled, watching his friends. "Idiots," he muttered affectionately, a hint of wistfulness in his eyes. As the only one without a significant other since his breakup last summer, he trailed behind. While he enjoyed the camaraderie of his friends, there were times he wished he still had someone special to share these nights with. As they headed inside, the familiar scent of chalk and stale beer filled the air. Some of the pool tables were already occupied, laughter and the clack of billiard balls providing a lively soundtrack. Jason saw Luke was already in action with a tall blonde seated next to him at a table with Martha's boyfriend, Dan, also back from California for the summer.

"The girls should be here any minute," Chad announced, checking his phone.

"I hope Gabs in a good mood tonight," Troy said with a nervous chuckle. "I kinda forgot her birthday last week."

"Smooth move, Romeo," Zeke teased.

Jason shook his head, feigning exasperation. "It's a wonder she stays with you, Hoops."

"Yeah? Look who's talking," Chad retorted. "When was the last time you had a date, Mr. Work-Work-Work?"

Jason shrugged. "I've had a few, just not the right girl yet." Sure, he missed having someone to flirt with, someone to make laugh, someone to hold hands with, but he wasn't about to settle for just anyone after the nightmare his last girlfriend had been. Shaking off the thoughts, he fell into step with his friends, ready for an evening of friendly competition and good-natured ribbing. As Jason surveyed the scene, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He might be single, but he was far from alone. When they settled into their usual spot near the bar, he shook it all off, reminding himself he was here for a good time with his friends. Besides, who knew what the night might hold?


Kelsi hopped out of the car before Taylor and Gabriella, stretching after being crammed into the back seat of Sharpay's car.

"Remind me again why we come here, ladies?" Sharpay whined as they all stepped out in their varying heights of heels.

Taylor's heels clicked on the pavement as she led the way towards the door. "Because the hot guys who find themselves lucky to be in our company buy us drinks here. I can't wait for Chad to wrap his arms around me."

Gabriella giggled as she pulled Kelsi along, encouraging her to keep up in her slip on sneakers. "Come on, Kelsi, we'll show you the ropes of this place!"

The door of the pool hall swung open to the comforting aromas of beer, bar food and fun as Kelsi followed her friends inside. This being her first time back since leaving for Juilliard, she had never been here before. She looked around at the warm wood panelled walls and the coloured cantina lights illuminating the green felt pool tables.

A cacophony of greetings erupted as the guys caught sight of them, Chad's voice rising over the rest. "Hey! There's my girl!" he exclaimed as he quickly crossed the room and scooped Taylor up in his arms.

Taylor threw her arms around him then leaned in to his eager kiss. "Hey, honey! How was the game this afternoon?" The rest of the girls filed in and found their way to the arms of their boyfriends, Kelsi receiving surprised greetings from all of her friends.

One guy's breath caught and his mouth fell open in a look of excitement and surprise. "Kelsi!" he exclaimed as his warm brown eyes locked onto hers.

Her face lit up, her smile beaming in her own happiness. "Hey, Jason!" The years melted away as he wrapped her in his embrace, a hug that lingered a little too long, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken connection that still hummed between them.

"Welcome back! We've missed you, playmaker," Jason said, his voice bright with the joy of seeing her.

"Thanks, I finally got to come home for the summer," Kelsi replied, her smile softening. "Juilliard has been really intense."

He studied her, taking in the subtle changes—the confidence in her posture, the hint of sophistication in her eyes. She was no longer the shy pianist from high school; she was a woman who'd carved her own path in the world. But yet she was still the same girl who had stolen his heart all those years ago, the one who got away.

"You look amazing," he blurted out, looking her over from head to toe. He couldn't help but smile at her quirky and colourful style that remained unchanged.

Kelsi laughed, a melodic sound that sent shivers down his spine. She'd forgotten how much she liked this guy. His humour, kind heart, killer smile, everything she remembered about him from high school came flooding back. Only, he wasn't the same guy from high school. He had clearly turned into a man, and a fine man too from the look of his strong chest and toned arms.

"You haven't changed a bit, Jason. Still a charmer."

"I try," he said with a shrug, "so, can I buy you a welcome home drink?" She agreed and followed him to the bar, "what'll it be?"

"Just a Budweiser please," she answered. He ordered hers and a non-alcoholic for himself and settled at the bar alongside her. They fell into easy conversation, catching up on lost time, the lively chatter of their friends slowly drifting into the background. Jason marvelled at her all over again, her smile, her bright green eyes, every piece of her was gorgeous as she had always been.

Kelsi, oblivious to his thoughts, filled him in on her college adventures. "It's been a lot of fun, I've learned so much and the shows have been spectacular."

"Can't be any better than the shows at East High," he teased, "you know we all killed it years ago."

Just as Kelsi's hand landed on Jason's in a peal of laughter at another story from her time away, the door creaked open, admitting an unwelcome figure.

"Oh shit," Jason muttered. The one person he didn't want to see: Nina. His ex-girlfriend strode in, her gaze immediately locking onto Jason and Kelsi.

"What's the matter?" Kelsi asked, glancing around for whatever was bothering him.

"My ex is here, guess she's home for the summer too."

Kelsi glanced over her shoulder and saw Nina strolling towards them, her eyes narrowed like she was on a mission. She couldn't help but feel intimidated by the girl's height and long auburn hair, not unlike a runway model.

"Well, well, look who it is," Nina drawled, sauntering over. "You miss me, Jason?" She tried to kiss his cheek, but he pulled away.

"You know damn well I don't miss you," he grumbled. "What are you doing here, Nina? You hate this place."

She ignored the sentiment and wrapped a manicured hand over his shoulder. "I figured you might be here, thought I'd give you the chance to change your mind." Before Jason could speak, Nina noticed Kelsi was looking on and turned her attention from Jason. "Who's your little friend?"

Jason's heart raged when Kelsi pulled her hand from his and he pried Nina's acrylic nails off of his shoulder. "Nina, this is Kelsi. She's my friend from high school."

Nina's lips curled into a sneer. "A friend, huh? Your friend doesn't look old enough to be in here." She turned her body into Jason's arm and leaned back on his shoulder. "Thought you liked real women, Jason."

Jason pulled away and stood, shrugging her off. He turned back to Kelsi. "I'm so sorry about this, Kelsi. Will you excuse me for a moment?"

Kelsi nodded, though her smile was a little strained. Just then, a shout came from across the bar.

"Kelsi! Get over here!" Kelsi glanced over to see her friends gathered around the pool table. She turned back to Jason, "I better go, I'll see you later, okay?"

"Yeah, of course," Jason said, watching her walk away with a sinking feeling. He turned to Nina, his jaw clenched and led her by the elbow across to the door.

"If you want to take me home, Jase, just say so," she said with a snicker.

Jason fumed, but did his best to keep his cool. "Look, I've tried to be polite, but now I've had it."

She scoffed. "Come on, Jase, you know what's good for you, and you're lucky to have me." She fiddled with the collar of his polo shirt and pulled him close to whisper in his ear. "We can get out of here right now…"

Jason ripped her hands from his shirt and stepped back. "I had my fill of you, Nina. We're done for long ago," he said firmly.

She turned to glance at Kelsi laughing with her friends across the room, her voice laced with venom. "So you say. Do you really think that little thing can keep up with you like I can?"

"Get lost, Nina."

Nina let out a long sigh, but finally decided to relinquish. "Well it was nice to meet your little downgrade, Jason." She blew him a kiss as she turned to leave. "You know where to find me if you get bored with her."

"Don't hold your breath," he spat over his shoulder. With a toss of her hair, Nina stalked off, leaving a tense silence in her wake.

Jason sighed, shaking his head as he walked back over towards the pool table, his heart pounding. Thankfully, Kelsi was still there, chatting animatedly with their friends. He leaned against the wall, watching her laugh and smile, his heart aching with a mix of regret and longing. Leave it to Nina to do one last bit of damage, wrecking a good thing he had going with Kelsi.

Luke nudged him as they leaned against the wall together, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "Looks like someone's got a blast from the past."

Jason couldn't tear his gaze away from Kelsi, a smile creeping onto his face as well. "Isn't she the cutest thing, man?" he said quietly.

"She does seem like a fine lady," Luke said, his tone quiet and polite. "How do you know her?"

"We were friends in high school, I had the biggest crush on her. Then Sharpay's brother, Ryan, took her to prom and I thought my chances with her were shot to hell when they went off to Juilliard together."

"Damn, that's rough," Luke said in surprise of the quick summary. "Are they together?"

"No, they're best friends. He's with someone else, but she didn't mention a boyfriend."

"Maybe you've got another shot, huh?" Luke said with a wink.

Jason shrugged his shoulders up and laughed softly, "I don't know, but you can bet your Stetson I'm going to find out."

Luke tapped his beer to Jason's and offered good luck. "Well don't let her slip away again, brother. I gotta go see if that blonde over there is still interested in spending some time with yours truly."

He waited for a break in the conversation, then stepped forward.

"Hey, Kelsi," he said softly, a sheepish grin on his face. "Can I steal you away for a minute?"

Kelsi turned to him, her eyes questioning. "Sure, Jason. What's up?"

He took a deep breath, "I just wanted to apologize for Nina. She's... a lot."

Kelsi chuckled. "I gathered that much."

"I'm really sorry I left you hanging like that," he continued, his gaze sincere. "I should have handled it differently."

"It's okay, Jason," Kelsi reassured him, placing a hand on his arm. "I understand. Exes can be... complicated. What happened between you two?"

"Uh well, we hooked up one night then we were together for a few months. She got pretty controlling and jealous. I laughed at Martha's joke once and she accused me of cheating on her with Martha.

"Geez, what a nut," Kelsi sighed with a swig of her beer.

Jason took another sip of his own and shrugged, "I got sick of her always putting down my friends so I ended things, but she still seems to think I want to get back together. Never in a million years."

"Well you're definitely better off without her," Kelsi said softly.

"Hey Kelsi, come here for a sec!" Martha called from the table where the rest of the gang had gathered around. Kelsi quickly realized she and Jason had been left alone when they had become lost in each other's company.

She smiled and turned, gesturing for Jason to follow. "You coming along?"

Before he could answer, Troy called out across the bar, "Jason, we're on for that rematch!" as he and Luke waved him over to the dart board.

He chuckled and shook his head. "I'll find you after I teach those guys a lesson," he said with a wink.

As the night wore on, Jason couldn't help but steal glances at Kelsi. He watched her green eyes and infectious smile light up the room, but still managed to throw a few perfect 180s at the dart board, making Luke and Troy groan. The old flame, the one he thought had been snuffed out in senior year, seemed to flicker back to life as he caught her glancing his way too. He watched her laugh with their friends, her eyes sparkling with a joy he hadn't seen in years.

After he smoked Luke and Troy at their rematch, he made his way back to Kelsi's side as she stood beside Martha, watching Dan shoot some pool with Chad. He took a deep breath and confidently hooked an arm around her shoulder. She jumped at his touch, but smiled when she looked up and saw it was him. "So, got any more good stories from New York, Kelsi?"

Her eyes brightened at his interest, but she couldn't help but feel like she had talked enough about her life earlier. She slipped out of his embrace, unsure if she should welcome his affection so easily, and led the way to an empty table for two. "Actually I was hoping you'd tell me some more about what you're up to. Chad said you work a lot, what do you do?"

"I'm a mechanic over at West End Classics. We focus on muscle cars, but we'll do all kinds of work," Jason replied with a shrug. "It's not the most glamorous job, but I love what I do. Finally got a '72 Plymouth working again that had been giving me grief all week."

"That must've felt good, that accomplishment of bringing it back to life," she said.

Jason thought he saw a flicker of genuine interest in her eyes, but he dismissed it, knowing his detailed descriptions of the intricacies of cars often sent girls drifting away real fast. "Yeah it was great. Did I hear you say you're back at the music store?"

Before she could answer, Sharpay's voice rang out across the bar. "Hey Kelsi! Come on, girl! We've decided on a slumber party tonight, say goodbye to Jason and let's get out of here!"

Kelsi blushed, feeling like she'd been called out for spending more time in his company. "Guess my ride is leaving," she said as she stood and Jason stood with her, "I'll see you around then?"

Jason smiled and pulled out his phone. "Definitely. Can I get your number? Maybe we can catch up some more next week."

She pushed down the butterflies in her stomach and casually took his phone. "Sure, that sounds nice," she said as she typed her number in. He noticed her fingers shaking a little as she typed and couldn't help but smile, thankful that he wasn't the only one feeling jittery tonight. She turned to catch the girls as they headed for the door, glancing over her shoulder with a wave at Jason. As his eyes caught Kelsi's once more, he had a feeling this summer was going to be different.


The neon lights of the pool hall faded behind them, replaced by the soft glow of Sharpay's living room. Laughter echoed through the house as Kelsi, Martha, Sharpay, Gabriella, and Taylor settled in for a night of girly bonding. Pillows were strewn across the floor, nail polish bottles lined up like soldiers, and a stack of cheesy rom-coms waited to be devoured.

As they shared stories of their last weeks of the term, Martha couldn't resist teasing her. "So, Kelsi," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "what was up with you and Jason at the bar tonight?"

Kelsi rolled her eyes, feigning nonchalance as she dipped her brush into a bottle of lime green polish. "Nothing was going on. He bought me a drink, we chatted for a bit. That's it."

"Oh, come on," Gabriella chimed in, her eyes twinkling. "The way he was looking at you... it was like you were the only person in the room."

"Yes girl," Taylor agreed, "definitely more than just 'old friends'."

Kelsi's heart skipped a beat, but she held her ground. "You guys are reading too much into it. He was just being nice."

Martha snorted. "Nice? Please. He was practically drooling over you."

Kelsi shrugged, trying to brush off their comments. "Maybe he was just feeling nostalgic. We haven't seen each other in a while."

"Nostalgia doesn't make someone act like that," Sharpay interjected. "He was definitely into you."

Kelsi sighed, the memories of Jason's warm smile and gentle touch flooding back. She had tried to convince herself that it meant nothing, that their brief summer romance had been just that – brief. But the girls' observations, coupled with her own lingering feelings, made it harder to deny.

"Look," she said, her voice firm, "even if there was something there, it doesn't matter. He didn't ask me to prom, he didn't try to stay in touch after I left for Juilliard. Plus, his bombshell of an ex showed up looking for him. It's clear he's moved on and wouldn't be interested in me."

The girls exchanged knowing glances. They knew Kelsi was trying to protect herself, to avoid getting confused again. But they also saw the way her eyes lit up whenever Jason's name was mentioned, the undeniable chemistry at the bar, but Kelsi was determined to deny it.

They didn't push her further, respecting her need to process her emotions at her own pace. But as the night wore on, filled with laughter, secrets, and shared dreams, a silent understanding hung in the air. They knew Kelsi wasn't fooling anyone, least of all herself. The spark between her and Jason was undeniable, and it was only a matter of time before she acknowledged it.


The next morning, the boys were all abuzz at the shop. The excitement of friends home from college managed to drown out the misery of a Friday spent working. They were all looking forward to the weekend, but Jason found himself in a particular slump. He was booked for the weekend shift while his mind snagged repeatedly on the time he spent talking to Kelsi last night. The way she had lit up when she talked about her music, how she laughed at his jokes, those encapsulating green eyes…

"Cross! Open your damn ears!" Luke shouted across the shop. Jason jerked out from under the hood, smacking the back of his head in the process, and glared across the shop.

"What, Perry?" he shouted back.

"For the third time, can you help me move this?" Luke gestured to an engine on a skid that had just been delivered.

Jason made his way over, rubbing the back of his head and releasing a long breath out. "Sorry, man," he grumbled, "I've been a bit out of it today."

Luke hooked the engine to the hoist while Jason loosened the tie straps holding it to the skid. "Wouldn't have somethin' to do with that Miss. Nielsen you were droolin' over last night would it?" he asked with a wink as they wheeled the suspended block over to a waiting empty engine bay.

Jason's face flushed and he knew he was caught. "Alright, yeah, I've been thinking about her all morning," he admitted, "and I wasn't drooling over her."

"Sure you were," Luke replied with a grin, "I saw you toss your arm around her like it was no big thing too, shame you didn't get to take her home."

"No way! I wouldn't do that, she's my friend," Jason replied defensively.

Luke chuckled as they lowered the engine into the bay, checking that he had it lined up just right. "Well if you're so friendly why don't you ask her out again this weekend?"

Jason sighed, securing the block on his side before passing the socket wrench to Luke. "Can't, man, I'm on the weekend shift tomorrow and Sunday." He heaved a sigh, "I guess there's still the evening, hard to go out on work nights though… Maybe she'd go for a coffee with me, but I'm off kinda late…"

"How 'bout Monday?" Luke interjected to cut off Jason's mumbling. "It's a holiday, shop's closed. Call her on lunch 'fore she has the chance to make plans."

Of course, Memorial Day weekend, Jason had completely forgotten about the extra day off. "That's not a bad idea," he said, his voice trailing off, almost unconvinced if he should.

"If you don't call her she'll be thinkin' you forgot about her," Luke replied. "Ya don't ask a woman for her number and not call her. I called Alisha this morning."

"Oh you got this one's name, did you?" Jason teased, knowing his friend was more of a hookup guy than he was.

Luke blushed and looked back over the block. "Yep, she's a special one, a firecracker of a Tennessee beauty and I'd like to get to know her a bit more."

"I think I'll do the same," Jason said as he checked the clock on the wall. "Well that's lunch, and I've got a call to make."


Kelsi sat on the swing on her front porch, enjoying a tea while she mulled over her notebook of lyrics. She had a song to finish this summer and inspiration hadn't exactly struck yet. Her phone suddenly rang loudly on the seat beside her, jolting her out of her thoughts. It was from an unknown number. She was about to decline, but it could be school related so she answered anyways.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Kelsi, it's Jason," his voice buzzed through the speaker.

Kelsi's heart skipped a beat as she sat straight up, almost knocking over her tea. "Hey, Jason!" she replied. Immediately regretting her enthusiasm, she nonchalantly added, "what's up?"

"Oh I'm just at work, but I was thinking about you," he paused and drew in a nervous breath, "and I wanted to ask you if you had any plans tonight?"

Kelsi felt her face flush. He had been thinking about her? She couldn't deny she had been thinking about him too, especially after the girls had teased her about him into the late hours of the night. Her heart sank to let him down. "I do actually, Martha invited me to her yoga class this evening."

"Oh okay, that sounds like fun," Jason replied cheerfully, but Kelsi could hear the disappointment lacing his voice.

"But I'm free tomorrow night," she said quickly, kicking herself again for the obvious eagerness, "would that work for you?"

"Yeah it would, I'm working kinda late, but if you're up for a coffee maybe?"

"I'd like that, although I don't drink coffee," she said with a giggle, "anywhere I can still get a good tea in this town?"

"For sure, why don't you meet me at Java Joes on 10th and Park at seven tomorrow?"

"Sounds good to me," she replied, "I'll see you there."