The Start of Something New...er (Ryan and Sharpay)

[Ryan Evans]

A night to remember...

This is how everyone around Ryan had been discussing prom lately, heck he'd even helped Kelsi choreograph a whole dance around a song that talked solely about how great prom was. However, sitting here in the East High Gym watching his friends have a good time while he was clutching to the cheap punch glass, Ryan Evans was starting to have severe doubts about prom as a reality, and the prom fantasy they had crafted.

As he shifted his chair with a muffled scuff, scanning the the room from under the brim of his hat, he couldn't help but think that the whole room really had been decked to the nines. To the untrained eye this very well could be the type of dream prom that would probably go down as one of the greater events in their Wildcats history, however this is not exactly how he had planned to have his prom go. Ryan let out another sigh before chuckling softly and looking down at his tux again. This was nothing like the original plan he'd had, not even close.

Ryan sloshed his punch around again as the music sped up again from the painfully slow song that had been playing moments before, wondering when exactly this whole "night to remember" feeling would kick in. In fact, remember the hours previous all he could think was that he was glad that prom only lasted a few hours and then he could just go home and shower the whole experience off him, hoping that somehow the memories of this would go with it. Looked across the dance floor he chuckled as he watched Kelsi borderline hassling the DJ, most likely on something regarding sound quality, or equipment, or whatever the East High Playmaker would find to discuss with the sweaty, minimum wage played college student who was running the show.

It was true, Kelsi hadn't been a bad date choice, not that he had really ever considered her a choice in the first place. His ideal date however had been killed months ago when they had agreed "it just wasn't working out anymore". Now sitting here on the sidelines of what should have been one of his last hurrahs at East High, he couldn't help but think it had been all for not after all. He had gone with Kelsi just as recommended and now he was thinking he should have just gone alone, it would have had the same result. He couldn't help but feel jealous of all the people having fun, knowing that he should be like that too, and he had intended to have as much fun as possible until she walked in the room on the arm of another man, or at least the closest thing to another man.

He shook his head and placed his punch glass on his table for one and started to scan the room again. It wasn't the healthiest habit, but he couldn't help but leer at Zeke with each pass they made around the room. It had gotten so bad recently that by now it seemed like he was bordering on stalker rather than protective brother. It was only until he didn't spot the flash of pink on the dance floor that his alarm was piqued. He stood up slowly from the table, pushing his chair aside and slowly walking along the edges of the dance floor hoping to spot even a glimpse of Sharpay so he could return back to wallowing back with his punch.

He'd made almost a full pass of the room, deciding she must have just decided to leave early, before he spotted Zeke sitting at one of the nearby tables talking animatedly with a group of Wildcats who were all almost unrecognizable without their typical basketball garb. Ryan had half a mind to go up and question Zeke about the whereabouts of his sister, but decided it didn't take a rocket scientist for him to figure out exactly where to look. Muttering a silent thank you to no one in particular, Ryan slowly made his way through the dance floor and headed towards the heavy doors, hoping that twin telepathy wouldn't choose to fail him now.

[Sharpay Evans]

"A night to remember...yeah, right."

Sharpay muttered to herself. Sitting on one of the benches near the parking area, all alone on their Senior prom night of all nights, was not a scenario people would put the one and only fabulous Sharpay Evans in. She should be there inside, enjoying the attentions and many compliments from her supposed to be "date", Zeke. It was fun at first, she liked being showered with compliments and praises, but it started to get annoying especially when the oblivious guy just started comparing her to pastries and cakes as if she was something sweet but edible.

So when she had had enough, she had to make an excuse to leave him, especially when he has just altogether stopped comparing her, and just started talking about cakes and baked goodies as if it was an unrequited love. He should have just taken his cookies as his date. That was when she realized she wasn't really enjoying the prom. That "night to remember" thing was just all an illusion, at least for her. From her point of view, it seemed like everyone else but her was enjoying it, even her own brother.

Well of course, he would enjoy this...this is his thing. Ryan was part of their group now, and he seemed to enjoy their company so much that he seemed to have moved on so fast. They broke up because of their differences, they just couldn't agree much anymore that it was as if they might as well just stay as what they originally were...just the Evans twins, nothing more.

But even when they have broken up months ago now, he was still her ideal prom date. She still imagined her prom to be like...dancing with Ryan, and making everyone else jealous because of how good they looked together, not to mention how good they would have been on that dancefloor, or even without all of that...her ideal prom was just to enjoy that night with Ryan, whatever they do would be okay with her as long she was with him. But that obviously was far from happening now. Ryan was inside, enjoying his prom with the small girl and with all of his new friends...not even noticing that she had left the scene.

No matter how good she was at pretending that she doesn't really care because she was too busy to notice anyway, she couldn't deny it to herself...it still pained her to see him so far from her now. It was as if he would only be with her in those times that he was because he pities her. But she couldn't really blame him, she knew it was her fault. She couldn't let go of her pride, so it was because of her that she was sitting here, on this bench, alone, and starting to feel cold on their prom night.

I wanted it all, and I got nothing at all. Just fabulous.

[Ryan Evans]

When Ryan stepped out the gym door, it took him all of two seconds to locate the very person he was looking for, the flash of huddled pink directly contrasting with the atmosphere of the spring night. The door finally closed behind him with a heavy thud as he shook his head slightly chuckling, something about seeing Sharpay even from this distance seemed vaguely reminiscent of how it was before last summer, before this whole year had ruined them.

He gingerly started to walk away from the gym, trying not to startle Sharpay because 1) she didn't have the greatest reaction skills, 2) She had a scream on her that could wake the dead, and 3) He was almost certain she still carried that pepper spray their dad had given her and he didn't want to find out the hard way. As he neared the bench it was as if the whole night was slowly starting to fade, at least slowly, each second tick was one second he was further away from the raucous bass and all-around jovial attitude that came from a Wildcats event, all of which he was frankly done with for now.

Ryan cleared his throat lightly as soon as he was within mere feet of the bench, hoping to alert Sharpay to his presence without outright scaring her. He couldn't help but feel pity for her, sitting out here by herself, he'd been content with that, but the Sharpay he knew and loved had wanted this night to be monumentous, which from the looks of it had failed miserably. As he made his way around the slowly sit beside her on the bench, he kept his eyes trained forward, not quite sure what to say yet. Easing down on the wood he cleared his throat again, pretending to be focused on something in the parking lot that stretched out in front of them.

"Some prom, huh?" he asked, hoping just to make light conversation with her, knowing that Sharpay would open up to him, but his words leaked out with a sardonic bitterness he had not intended. Turning to his side lightly he noticed her bare arms and awkward posture and without realizing he was already shrugging off his tuxedo jacket and placing it over her shoulders as if it were second nature. "You looked cold..." He said slowly, his voice petering out as he turned his head forward again, listening to the soft hum of nearby cars.

[Sharpay Evans]

Sharpay almost just gave up, obviously nothing would happen if she stayed there, it wasn't as if a fairy godmother would appear and make everything magical for her and save her prom night. Of course, she's no Cinderella. She just wanted to go home at that moment, mostly because she was really starting to feel cold, her arms instinctively wrapping around herself as she shivered. Suddenly, she felt that she wasn't alone outside anymore...and that someone was approaching her, or at least going to her direction. She could hear the light and rhythmic footsteps, and as he cleared his throat, Sharpay knew right away who it was...her heart jumped at the thought.

He sat beside her, and it did nothing to calm her stupid heart down. It even got worse when he got closer to her, she was starting to feel amazed and overwhelmed that through all this time, Ryan still causes these reactions from her, he just didn't know it yet...and she doesn't even know if he should know, or if he would even care. She tried to calm down, repeatedly telling herself that it's nothing, he probably just looked for her out of pity. Because no matter how good an actress she thinks she is, Ryan knows her better than everyone else does...he would know if she was having the time of her life, or the total opposite of that, which was the case that night.

"Some prom, huh?"

She shook her head with a bitter grin on her face. "What are you doing here?" She asked, her eyebrow slightly raised in curiosity. "Shouldn't you be inside with Kelsi? With all of your friends? Partying like a true Wildcat?" Her words seemed to come out like a whisper, and without control, and she couldn't even hide the bitterness leaking through it. The night breeze gently blew, making her shiver once more. She wasn't only feeling cold outside, it was as if at that moment her insides were starting to feel cold too.

But all of a sudden, she forgot all her bitter thoughts as she felt him place his tuxedo around her, helping a lot in warming her up. She couldn't even pretend to be annoyed now, she didn't even try. She was just glad that it seemed like the Ryan who was sitting beside her on that bench seemed like the Ryan he knew and fell in love with last summer. "Um...yeah," she answered in a small voice, suddenly feeling guilty again.

"Thanks, Ry." For the first time that night, and probably since they broke up, Sharpay smiled a real smile.

[Ryan Evans]

Ryan placed his arm on the back of the bench and turned back to fully face Sharpay again, the look on her face enough to cause him to chuckle and match her eyebrow raise in the same fashion. "Should I be asking you the same thing?" He asked as he nodded back to the heavy door that were mere yards behind them, the faint sounds of merriment still filtering out. "Shouldn't you be in there with Zeke, parading him around?" He added almost in jest, knowing full well she had no intention of parading him around, but then again he didn't even know why she had said yes to his invitation in the first place. He chuckled again when she mentioned his friends, always a subtle reminder of their us versus them hierarchy.

He turned around to face the gym for a second, lost in his thoughts for a second as he focused on something she said. "Let's face it, Shar," He started slowly again as he turned back to face her with a wistful look in his eyes. "We both know quite well that in a few days time we're not going to even be Wildcats anymore..." His voice hanging in the air as he finally admitted what he wasn't quite yet ready to admit out loud: they were all graduating and moving on.

"I don't even think I can be True Wildcat anymore," he admitted softly, chuckling as someone let a heavy whoop out from somewhere inside the school. "Also prom is really no fun when no one in there can dance to save their lives." He said finally letting out a laugh for the first time in what felt like forever. "So I'd rather be out here with you." He said with a smile as he leaned back on the bench slightly, acknowledging her soft thank you with a slight nod.

[Sharpay Evans]

Sharpay let out a laugh, it also seemed like it was something she had not done for a long time. Ever since they went on their separate ways, Sharpay had always been edgy and uptight...always planning seriously about her future in Juilliard and in Broadway, every detail should be perfect, just wanting everything to go her way, and getting upset when it fails. This was the first time since then that she just felt...relaxed. Ryan has always done that to her anyway, and it never fails.

"Ugh, Zeke wouldn't stop ranting about overcooking the eclairs he was supposed to give me, and honestly, I don't even care," she shook her head, rubbing her temple. "It was really so much better to just be here, than to be inside, having to hear that boy talk, making me not want to eat baked goods for like...a long time," she chuckled, shaking her head as she scooted closer to Ryan.

She faced him fully this time around as she listen to him, realizations washing over her all so suddenly. This was not the time to wallow in self-pity, they were only a few days away from graduation, this would be all over so soon...and she still didn't know if she would still be with Ryan after all of this. Slightly scared of that thought, she scooted even closer to Ryan until she can place her head on his shoulder. "Why do you have to always be right?" Sharpay looked up at him with a smile. "And I know, it was torture to watch all of those kids on the dance floor...ugh. We're so much better, Ry. If only we can show them."

"So I'd rather be out here with you."

When he said those words, her instant reaction was a giggle, wrapping her arm around him. As she felt her cheeks slightly warming up, she looked down instantly, she didn't want him to see how he still affects her, not yet, not now...that might ruin the moment. It just felt so good to be this close to him again, to be able to hold him like she did before.

[Ryan Evans]

Ryan had to disguise his laugh in to a cough when Sharpay had mentioned Zeke, who in the typical fashion couldn't stop being...well Zeke for more than five minutes. Shaking his head Ryan had to think that there was really no worse choice for a date, at least none that he could logically think of. "If it would make you feel better, I'll just buy you éclairs from the grocery store or something," He joked, nudging her lightly, his heart racing even from that light touch. For a moment he felt as if his eyes must have been playing tricks with him since it seemed like with each moment she was moving closer. A faint smile traced his lip as he leaned in a little closer to her thinking that even if they had broken up amicably all those months ago, they still had never been on the same page like they had been before, like there were parts of themselves missing, but here and now he could feel them repairing...almost.

It was only until he looked up again that he realized his eye hadn't been playing tricks on him, her head now fully resting on his shoulder. "I'm not always right," He muttered back, knowing that was the truth, after all, had he been right they'd still be together now versus in this strange limbo they were facing now. "I think you're biased," He nodded again slowly, shifting his position so she was resting more comfortably on him.

He let the silence fall between them again, trying to think of something to say, not wanting this night to end in dead end small talk. He let out a small sigh, a slow realization crossing his mind as he shifted restlessly again. "You know," he started again, breaking the stillness as a small smile curled on his lips. "Just because we can't show them doesn't mean we can't try anyways, right here, right now in this parking lot." He muttered cryptically as he shifted and started to stand slightly offering his hand out to her, clearing his throat sharply before speaking again. "Can I have this dance?" He asked, waiting with baited breath, his hand started to sweat slightly even in the cool night breeze.

[Sharpay Evans]

Sharpay's eyes lit up when Ryan mentioned buying eclairs for her. She loved eclairs, she just lost appetite for them when they were all Zeke could talk about. "You would do that?" She giggled in response when he nudged her, and nudged him back, feeling as if finally, slowly...they're going back to the way they were before...before anything was ruined between them. Her heart melted when she saw his slight smile, this brought back lots of memories that she had been trying so hard to suppress and set aside, the memories of last summer.

She smiled even more when he shifted his position, making her rest her head even more comfortably on his shoulder. She hugged him closer to her, relishing the feeling of it. "Hey, you know very well that if I'm being biased, I would have said I'm the one who's always right," she hit him gently and playfully, the same way she used to do before. She couldn't help but smile at all the things happening right now. She left the prom early, expecting to just stay alone and lonely the whole night trying to forget that she had even attended her senior prom...but here she sat on the bench, holding Ryan close to her as if she wouldn't want to let go. Only he really knows how to save her. He would really always be her knight-in-shining armor, no matter what happens.

When she felt him slowly made a move to stand up, her heart started to beat faster on her chest. It was probably their twin telepathy that made Sharpay know what's coming next. She felt speechless as he ask the five-word question that she thought he wouldn't be able to ask her, not anymore after they broke up. It was enough to overwhelm her. With her hands slowly starting to shake, she took his hand, slowly standing up. "I--" she had to clear her throat when her voice broke, before speaking again, "I'd love to." She stood in front of him, smiling widely. Finally, she could already feel that this would really be a "night to remember".

[Ryan Evans]

Even after all this time Sharpay was still the only person who could push the witty lines aside in his head and render him a speechless, grinning idiot. A speechless, grinning idiot, that was really the most apt description he could think of as he took her hand gently, the slight pain of smiling starting to crease in his cheeks as he completely forgot whatever snappy comment he'd been trying to make about éclairs. Seeing the smile on her face, and her likewise speechless reaction, to him it didn't matter much how the night had started, or how it had progressed to this point, no what really mattered was the fact they were here now standing face to face in the East High parking lot, Sharpay in his oversized tuxedo jacket while once again the rest of the Wildcats were obliviously elsewhere.

The sad part was he couldn't even think of anything suave to say now that she was standing, so he just gave a breathless nod knowing that for now that would suffice, after all, they weren't always the most normal people he knew anyways. As he slowly pulled her close, placing his hand gingerly on her back as he laced his other hand in hers slightly he couldn't help but feel that even on the smallest of levels they still fit together like matching pieces, even when he was afraid they wouldn't again. He looked down at his feet for a second, knowing he was already breaking any fundamental rules of dancing, but if anything, Ryan Evans was thorough when it came to proper dancing form. To him this had to be perfect, this could very well be his last dance at East High, it had to count for something bigger.

He started to shuffle a little awkwardly, trying to get into the swing of dancing with someone who was of ideal height, it was ironic how even if they fit so well together, he had to get used to dancing in an unawkward fashion. His typical partner as of late had been Kelsi, and in short, she was no Sharpay. He chuckled again his step falling slightly out of rhythm. "Sorry," He muttered to her, meeting her eyes again deciding it didn't matter how off his steps were now. "This was a little better in theory, what without music and all." He said into a soft laugh, having been so eager to dance with her that he'd forgotten that tiny,little detail. He hummed softly, trying to give himself at least some rhythm to follow so he didn't make an ass of himself now. "You know," He said for what felt like the hundredth time that night, interrupting his own soft humming while still slowly shuffling along with Sharpay . "I didn't think I'd get to dance with you tonight with...everything..." Ryan's last words left hanging as he looked away slowly, not wanting to rip open any old wounds of their breakup just when they seemed to heal again. "I guess I'm just...glad..." He added looking back at her with the most genuine smile he had mustered in a long time.

[Sharpay Evans]

Sharpay's heart started racing as she let herself be pulled close to Ryan, her eyes never leaving his the moment they met again. In response, she gently placed her arm around his shoulder, her other hand holding tightly on to his, and she couldn't help but feel so complete at that moment, she hadn't felt that for a long time now. They really fit perfectly together, she couldn't even deny it to herself. As they started moving, even without music, everything just seemed to feel like they've finally fallen into place. That moment was so perfect that Sharpay had even forgotten that they had no proper music, and they were dancing on the parking lot, their only source of light was the moon and the lamp posts, his jacket all over her...and yet it felt like this was the prom that she had been dreaming of, and it was enough to overwhelm her. When Ryan started humming a familiar tune, she closed her eyes and hummed along as she continued moving with him, she didn't need to open her eyes to know they were moving perfectly to their own improvised music.

When she opened her eyes again to look at his, her heart skipped a beat once again. Instinctively, she moved closer to him without messing the dance, her arm wrapping tighter around him. She missed the feeling of being this close to him again...that at the moment she was starting to wonder why she had let themselves fall apart. At that moment, it seemed to her like it was clear...they belong together...but she had messed it up...she had messed them up, and she could never forgive herself for that. But she would think of that later, what matters at that moment was that she was dancing with Ryan on their prom night.

She couldn't help but giggle as he admitted the very same thought that was in her head ever since they broke up. "So...I guess, twin telepathy still works," she said, giggling as they turn. She looked down at their feet, feeling herself blush at what she was about to admit to him. "I've felt the same way too, Ry. I'm actually feeling...overwhelmed...right now, you know?" she nodded slowly, looking up at him again. "You should know...you're still my one and only ideal prom date," she said with a smile, biting on her lip to keep from smiling too widely, feeling slightly embarrassed as she admitted it to him out loud.

[Ryan Evans]

Ryan couldn't hold back his incredulous laugh when Sharpay mentioned their twin telepathy. "still works? He questioned lightly with his eyebrows before laughing again. "Shar, it's the only thing we can count to work half the time." He admitted with a shake of his head, which was part of the reason a night like tonight, and the past few weeks especially had been the most difficult for them. He didn't want to admit it, not that he had to, they would always be connected in some way whether they liked it or not. He shook his head slightly, shaking off the dark thought that their telepathy had mislead them all those months ago, unable to compromise leading to their eventual division, it didn't seem like something that should have happened to them with everything they had inherently, and with everything they had been through. Continuing to hum again softly, Ryan decided that with the close of their East High career coming it didn't matter what they did, but rather how they made up for it, which he felt like they were achieving slowly as he relished in the sound of her giggle.

It was only until Sharpay looked down at her feet that Ryan stopped the pretense of humming altogether, slowing their motions slightly while still managing to keep dancing at a metered pace. "Overwhelmed..." He breathed out in agreement, feeling the hand he had gripped in hers slowly start to sweat again. "I understand." He said with a nod, his eyes flitting away from hers slowly again as he started to ponder over everything that was just happening in this moment, the wheels in his head slowly moving. His eyes narrowed slightly as he listened to her talk, starting to feel that bitterness creep up again. "Shar, if I'm such the ideal date," He started the happiness of the past few moments slowly leaving his mind. "Then why are you here with him?" He asked nodding back to the gym doors once again. His eyes lingered on the door for a moment, slowly preparing himself to make a long winded speech about his own lack of self worth, but upon looking back at Sharpay he lost those thoughts completely. His smile slowly back onto his face as he noticed the look in her eyes, and the faint blush on her cheeks highlighting the subtle way she bit her lip when she was holding back.

In this moment all he could think was that slowly, somehow through some miracle, they'd managed to find those parts of them that seemed buried and dead and managed to wake them up again, almost as good as new. He eased his hand off her back slightly and against his better judgment brought it softly to her face tracing the slight blush on her cheeks with the back of his hand. "I really missed that." He spoke out nostalgically as his mind wandered back to months ago, his voice almost nearing a whisper now as he stepped even closer to her. From the heavy thuds he was now hearing it seemed as if the dance had picked up again, but as he continued to look at Sharpay he realized that it was infact the sound of his heart pounding in his ears.

[Sharpay Evans]

Sharpay had never felt as wonderful before as she was feeling at that moment while dancing with Ryan. This was actually a dance that they've never done before, or maybe they did, but it wasn't anything like that. They have never waltzed like this before, and it was as if they were performing with how perfect they moved together, and they have not even rehearsed, not even danced together for a long time now. Every little thing at that moment seemed to tell her the same thing...the same thing that she was trying to deny. "Yeah, you're right. I guess it has always worked," she said in agreement, nodding at him with a grin. They had always thought about the same thing even when they didn't know, and didn't want to...they just had no choice. At this realization, she was starting to think if it was probably the reason why they thought they weren't just working. She observed Ryan like she never did before as he laughed, this was the Ryan she had been missing all along. She closed her eyes again as he hummed, once again humming along to the music he was making.

Sharpay could feel his hand sweating, she didn't really mind, but it was just one of the things she knows very well about Ryan. It usually only happens when he is feeling nervous, she would know. They used to hold hands before they start a show, their way of reassuring each other. Right now though, she really couldn't tell why he would feel nervous. Nowadays, ever since they broke up Ryan was the one who seemed so calm and cool around her, heck, he wasn't even affected anymore if she yells or whatever bratty thing she does. She figured for this one, she would just have to trust the twin telepathy...maybe, just maybe, he was feeling the same way. As they slowed down though, she could feel the sudden tension rising, as he asked her that question. Sharpay knew the answer, of course, she just didn't know how she would explain it to him. Sharpay looked away from him as well as she took a deep breath, preparing for her answer. "Ry, I was with him...because I thought he was the only one who would want to take me to the prom," she answered quietly, the most honest words she has said in a while. She kept his eyes away from him as she continued, "I didn't want to be alone tonight, Ryan. I especially didn't want you to see that." It was all because of pride. She suddenly thought of how stupid that decision was...she didn't want to be alone so she went with Zeke, but that led her more to being alone on their prom night, which was even worse.

Sharpay was starting to feel so embarrassed that she couldn't even look at Ryan anymore. But her body seemed like it has a mind of its own as it kept moving along with him. When she felt his hand move away from her back though, she thought it was all over. So she was completely surprised and almost shocked, when she felt the back of his hand brush her cheek so lightly, it left tingling sensations on her face, bringing back the feelings she had not felt for months now. She slowly looked up at him when she felt him move closer to her, and started to doubt if she was still really awake, even more when he said those words. Her emotions were running wild now, that her eyes were starting to sting. "I missed you, Ry...so much."

[Ryan Evans]

It was ironic now how many times in one day that Ryan could be wrong, especially when it came to Sharpay, and this was no different. He had just assumed that she had wanted to take Zeke, after all aside from a few minor personality faults, he wasn't a bad guy, just a little clueless really. "Is that what you were worried about?" He asked, feeling the tone of his voice go a little too harsh for a moment, just feeling like she was just as equally off base as he had been. "I'd have taken you," He stated firmly, his gaze trying to lock with hers as she looked away from him. "Even through everything I'd thought of still asking you, but when you told me to ask Kelsi, I thought..." His voice died out again as he closed his eyes now letting go of her other hand and running his hand through his hair and shaking his head with an exasperated noise. "We really are twins." He laughed out awkwardly knowing that deep down that was the very cause and solution to all their problems.

He took in a deep breath and shook his head violently for a moment, standing silent, his hand still brushing against Sharpay cheek trying to figure out exactly what to say next. He was flabbergasted by the fact this was happening here and now, albeit a little belatedly and albeit in the weirdest place he could have imagined, but at least they were finally talking about this. When he finally caught the look in her eyes he felt his heart start to race again, barely registering what she had said to him, and yet with all himself he was sure he heard her say she missed him too. He let out another awkward strangled laugh of relief as his eyes closed again, as he leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers, the pieces all slowly falling back into place, just like how they used to.

"You know," he started slowly in the most confident tone he could feign with all the thoughts in his head, his now free hand slowly snaking up over her hand. "I'm sick and tired of everything going bad for us," he continued, his voice cracking slightly as his hand traced up her arm further. "you and me that is," He said shaking his head back and forth against hers in disbelief as his hand traced higher up her arm. "I don't understand why it has to always be us," he continued, his eyes opening slowly again as he felt his face move closer to hers. "I don't want to be like Troy and Gabriella," He admitted, knowing just as well as everyone else the sick cycle that East High's Golden Couple went through on a regular basis "And I figure if all those people in there can work in out," He said with a little nudge of his neck back to the gym. "Then maybe you and I can too." He finished, his words coming out in heaving breaths as his hands came to rest on both sides of her face. "What do you say?" He asked as his eyes flicked down to meet hers as he exhaled heavily with a nod, finally moving as close as humanly possible before leaning forward and pressing his lips to hers.

[Sharpay Evans]

Sharpay really was starting to think she was just dreaming at that moment. Maybe she did fell asleep on that bench, because it just couldn't be...the Ryan now, was different from the Ryan back then. And yet here he was standing so close to her that she could feel his warm breath on her face, telling her that he would have taken her to prom. "Seriously? But I thought..." she said, shaking her head in disbelief at what he had just admitted. That was the reason why she made him go with Kelsi, she couldn't bear rejection, she was never good at dealing with it. And she had thought that Ryan really wanted nothing to do with her anymore, that taking her to prom would have been the last thing on his mind. She almost wanted to curse their telepathy, sometimes it works in their favor, but when it doesn't, it causes so much trouble, mainly because they were always on the same page, most of the time they just didn't know how scarily similar their thoughts are. She nodded, letting out a weak laugh at that realization. "Yeah, no doubt we are." She shook her head gently at how stupid all of that seemed.

And then all of a sudden, as all those realizations sank in, and with Ryan's hand continuously brushing her cheek gently, she just couldn't stop it anymore, it was all too much for her to take. She could feel tears welling up on her eyes and slowly it fell as she closed her eyes. And yet, she was still laughing weakly, shaking her head against his when he pressed his forehead to hers, this seemed all seemed too good to be true. Her feelings for him didn't really change, she still loved him the same way she did last summer, she just got too caught up with doing her own thing, got too paranoid for their future. But she still does love him so much, and now she knew she had just wasted those months away from him when she could have just stayed with him, that was what she really wanted anyway. At that moment, she was just hoping he still feels the same way, that he wouldn't think it was already too late for them.

When Ryan started to speak, Sharpay kept her eyes closed, just trying to focus on his words, hanging onto each of them as it left his mouth. But her eyes suddenly opened when she felt his hand on hers, slowly creeping up on her arm, leaving goosebumps raising as he continued to move it. She felt her cheeks warming up even more, and she couldn't even hide it anymore, she didn't need to. This would be the night, she decided, that she needed to be most honest with him, he deserved that much now, she owed him so much. When his hands were finally resting on her cheeks, she opened her eyes, surprised that his face was so much closer now, only just an inch away from hers. She was just about to answer his question when she opened her mouth, she was so ready for it, until she felt his lips on hers, and her heart just stopped beating for a few seconds.

Her initial reaction was to panic, one part of her mind was trying to tell her that it wasn't safe...they were just outside at the parking lot, they can be seen by anyone. But when it finally registered on her mind, she was finally kissing Ryan again after all those months, the other side of her mind won, she didn't even care anymore. She kissed back with as much passion as she could let him feel, her hands clutching on his tuxedo vest, pulling him closer to her if that was even possible. Through that kiss, she answered his question.

[Ryan Evans]

It took even Ryan a moment to register what was happening, it seemed like the most improbable thing that could happen, and he'd even been the initiating factor so that could only speak to volumes how taken aback Sharpay must be feeling right now. It took him a second to remember where they were and who they were for that matter, causing the more rational part of his brain to start working again as he building anxiety started to come back. They shouldn't be doing this, not here of all places, and he had just assumed it would be a good idea to kiss her, just because she had said she missed him didn't mean that she missed him like that. Only seconds of kissing had passed before Ryan started to panic inside his head thinking of all the logical excuses and apologies he could think of so that he wasn't met with the recoil, slap, and storming away that he had been waiting for as he slowly started to ease back from her. The only problem Ryan was having at the moment however, was that he couldn't come up with any logical argument, because he didn't regret this, not what they were doing, not where they were, and certainly not who it was with, and for that reason alone he couldn't justify not kissing her.

The only part of his brain that remained steadfast about stopping was the fact that as much as he wanted to kiss her, that didn't mean she had wanted to kiss him. With a defeated sigh in his head, Ryan started to step away from her, already plotting his path of retreat back to the bench and the poorly worded apology that was slowly forming. This plan had seemed like the most logical idea, that was until he taken back himself by the feeling of her hands on his chest grabbing him by his vest, pulling him closer, the obvious feeling of her kissing back was hard to ignore even if he tried.

That was the answer he really needed to hear all along, which was ironic given the fact he had gotten the answer to the questions he needed while they were a little too preoccupied to speak. Even after all the talking they had done over the months, and concessions they had made, they had never really come to conclusive answer, but that might have been that they kept coming to the wrong one. He moved back closer to Sharpay again, thinking that this was a good enough example for reasons why they shouldn't have broken up in the first place, not for this moment in particular, but because even after all this time they still fit perfectly. It was only when another heavy cheer from inside reached his ears that he snapped out of his reverie and finally pulled away, keeping his lips hover close to hers with their foreheads still connected. He ran his thumb slowly along her jawline and just let out a relieved breath again. "Wow." He stated simply, his heart beating slightly out of rhythm as he chuckled at how they could never just have a normal moment between them, not that he'd trade now.