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Knock Knock, “Ryan.”
He had never been this nervous before. He’s been on stage a handful of times, loves to be the centre of attention (well when he gets the chance), so why is this so difficult for him? His head is pounding!
Knock Knock, “Hey…Ryan.”
Slowly Ryan looks into his bathroom mirror. Looking back at him is a guy he doesn’t recognise, there’s just something off about the person that’s reflected back. All he can notice is everything is off. His shirt was the wrong shade of white, his purple tie looks far too bright and his suit which sits in the corner of the room feels like it’s mocking him. It’s as if he had started a puzzle but had no idea what the picture was supposed to be. Ryan sighs, running his hand through his hair to try and get it to go in the right direction.
“Ryan!” A shriek is heard outside his bathroom door followed by several bangs on the locked door. “I need you opinion on something and I don’t trust Daddy right now, he’s giving me that look again!”
He groans in frustration. He remembers the last time he tried to ignore Sharpay when their father gave her ‘that look’. The look that said you’re being ridiculous. That ended well for no one.
“Shar seriously,” he unlocks the door then throws it open, “I don’t have time. What do you want?”
Sharpay just stood there in her dressing gown, makeup and hair both completed, and she looked stunning. Still picture perfect as usual. Stood behind her was Kelsi looking just as stunning, yet more timid. Why can’t I have everything working in my favour right now. Ryan complained to himself. “Ryan!” she snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Earth the Ryan. Hello?”
He shook his head trying to snap himself out of his awkward and annoyed state. Looking over Sharpay again, he didn’t understand why she needed his opinion on anything. All she had to do was put on her dress and she was good to go. “What’s wrong Shar?” He questioned.
“You apparently.” Tongue as sharp as ever. “What’s with you? You’ve been ignoring me all day and then you decided to shut yourself in the bathroom for an hour. You won’t even let Kelsi in!” She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, getting impatient. Kelsi stood behind her, hesitant smile on her face. “Either you tell me what’s wrong or I’m forcing it out of you mister!”
“What did you want to ask me Shar, I don’t have time for your mind games.” Ryan sighed, crossing his arms in annoyance.
“Nothing I just wanted you to open the door to me. You’ve ignored everyone else; poor Kelsi has been standing here for 20 minutes trying to get you to open the damn door! I knew you would listen to me.” Smirk high on her face, moving side to side. She always gets what she wants.
“Only because if I didn’t you would blow up in my face about nothing and everything all at once.” Ryan grumbles. Sighing he turned to Kelsi, “Sorry Kels, I really didn’t hear you.” She smiled in return, understanding written across her face.
“It’s okay Ry.”
Sharpay huffed, “Good – let’s hope you always listen to your big sister! I’m here for a reason!” Her smirk turning into a quick smile. Sharpay turns him around and pushes him back into his bathroom. She follows behind him and shuts the door. Just before the door closes, he noticed the nod directed towards Kelsi as she left in the direction of Sharpay’s room.
“Now what’s wrong.” She places Ryan in front of his mirror as she stands to the side. In situations like this, Sharpay knows not to stare at her brother directly or he will never open up about anything…something about pressure and how he can’t look directly into her eyes otherwise he’ll turn to stone.
“I’ve never seen you so out of it before. You’ve been planning this whole thing for months! Months! So – what’s up?”
Ryan let’s out a big sigh, resting a hand on the countertop. With his other hand he gestures to his current attire, eyebrows raised in annoyance. “Look at me, I’m a mess!”
Sharpay gives him a once over, “Yeah you are.” She says as a matter of fact.
“Well, jeez big sis, don’t try to sugar-coat it will you!” Ryan’s voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Hey!” nudging his shoulder with hers, “Do you want the truth or not?”
The only response she gets is a mumble of acceptance. Good enough.
“I thought so.” She picks up the make up bag that she spots on the side of the sink. Motioning to the closed toilet she asks him to sit.
Raising his eyebrows in shock he does as he’s told. “Since when did you do other people’s make up – I’ve never even seen you do your own.” Shock noticeable in Ryan’s voice.
“Hey!” She protests, “I’m perfectly capable of doing my makeup,” placing the bag down on the counter next to the toilet, “I just prefer the attention.” Looking through the back she finds what she’s looking for and gets to work starting with skin prep and foundation.
“Why are you helping me anyway?” Ryan asks after 10 minutes of silence, looking towards his sister. She groans and puts his head back to wear it was.
“Oh come on… I could basically hear your meltdown from my room. But I could also hear Kelsi knocking and knocking and knocking and frankly it was giving me a headache.” Ryan looked down in embarrassment, he really didn’t mean to ignore her, but he was so spaced out that he didn’t realise she was knocking at all.
Sighing in defeat, she continued, “And… I know how much prom means to you.” As Ryan looks at her from the corner of his eye, she has a soft look in her’s. “It’s not everyday your brother gets asked out by one of the biggest athletes at school! So, sit down and chill – I got this!”
Ryan smiles to himself remembering how the whole thing happened. Where it all started.
***
Ryan had just escaped from the mess that was happening in the cafeteria – another promposal from one of the athletes to another cheerleader. He had to laugh at the hypocrisy at this school sometimes. So these jocks would happily get together to sing some cheesy pop song for a their team captain’s promposal to his girlfriend, with stupid dance moves and out of tune noise but he was picked on for learning the same song to sing for the talent show last year… wow!
Scoffing to himself, he pushed open the door to the music room, his music room. It wasn’t too big to too small just big enough for a piano and a desk. This was the one place he could thing clearly. His own sanctuary. The only person he would allow in here would be Kelsi. But then again, it as much her sanctuary as his. The two were quite close and had been since middle school. They had bonded over their mutual bullying. The years they spent growing up together had borne a beautiful friendship, a unique friendship between the two. You could almost say they were like brother and sister, but Sharpay would argue otherwise. (Many would say this is because Sharpay preferred all the attention on her, but Ryan liked to think this was her way of protecting him. Many people had hurt her brother and it was Sharpay’s job to stop that from happening – no matter how close that person was. It had happened before) So, she was pushed to the side lines when around the twins, however she knew how much she meant to him, to both of them.
So, when Ryan entered the music room and heard someone playing around with the piano, he just naturally assumed it was Kelsi. Looking up he saw someone he wasn’t expecting. Chad Danforth.
This was such a strange thing to see – normally if he wanted to talk to Ryan he would message him…
***
“Okay!” Sharpay said snapping Ryan out of his daydream, “That’s as calm and neutral I can manage. It will complement your suit nicely and also,” She looks though the makeup bag for a compact mirror, “Only a small amount of purple to make the tie really pop!”
Ryan took the small compact and looked at the eye makeup done by his sister, choosing to ignore her as she sung her own praises in the background. Deciding he wanted to get a better look at what she had done, Ryan moves towards the sink. He takes in his reflection and the subtle make up that Sharpay had blessed him with, her own words. It was as if everything was fitting into place; the subject of the puzzle was finally clear. His shirt was finally the right shade of white which went with the lavender tie wrapped around his collar. As he looked back to his suit, Sharpay was holding it up towards him.
“Have I ever told you how proud I am of you?” Sharpay said with a smile that was so genuine it was only reserved for Ryan himself. “You’ve been through a lot little brother, and I don’t think I really say it enough. You’ve always been by my side and even helped me grow as a person.” As she continued, Ryan’s eyes started to well up with tears.
“I might be difficult, but I always know you’re there for me – so I just wanted to make sure that you know I’m here for you too. Now come on now, get ready. They’ll be here soon.”
Ryan smiled at her and as he opened his mouth to thank her, “Don’t you dare cry mister! I spent 30 minutes on that make up, you better not ruin it!” She interrupted.
Suddenly there was a knock at his bathroom door, “Er… Sharpay, we need to get into our dresses-”
Rolling her eyes at Kelsi’s statement, she handed Ryan the hanger and moved up to the door, throwing it open and barraging Kelsi with nothing and everything all at once. Ryan could hear Sharpay’s nonsense as she left the room with a slam. He smiled to himself, my big sister, ever the drama queen.
While getting himself into his suit and straightening his tie, he hears the doorbell. Shit!
Giving himself a once over, he finally feels like Him. The actor that shines in the spotlight (when he gets the chance), the confident young man that loves the attention. He feels like Ryan Evens! The sharp suit with the smart but subtle purple makeup. The faith in himself that nothing can go wrong. This is the night, the night of nights, tonight!
Smiling to his reflection, he moves out of his bathroom into his room. He picks up his hat and moves towards the staircase. This is it.
Ryan makes his way across the landing towards the stairs, and he notices both Sharpay and Kelsi. Sharpy seems to be fussing over a small detail on the top of Kelsi’s dress as Kelsi tries to bat her away. Right then, Ryan feels really lucky to have sisters like them - a captivating duo radiating an aura of pure elegance. Smiling to himself, he walks towards them to hopefully stop their bickering but the sound of the front door being opened and guests being greeted and invited in gains their attention.
Sharpay turns, locking eyes with Ryan, and an unspoken connection intensifies between them (call it twin intuition), a silent assurance echoing: You've got this! They walk towards each other, halting in unison at the top of the staircase.
“So…”
“…So.”
Caught in a whirlwind of thoughts, they struggle to tame their racing minds and formulate a single coherent sentence. As they stand there, Ryan see that the smile Sharpay shares with him is a mixture of astonishment and anticipation, as if what is about to unfold is something truly unbelievable. Just then, Kelsi loops her arms through theirs and guides them down the stairs with a contagious enthusiasm.
"Let's go, you two! This is gonna be a night to remember."
Ryan had never realized walking could be this challenging. Nerves danced uncontrollably throughout his body, their frenzied energy threatening to burst out. Amidst his racing thoughts, panic began to set in. Doubts crept in like shadows - was this all some cruel joke? A lie conjured by his own unkind mind, toying with his happiness? What if…what if… what if…
He locked eyes with Chad.
In that instant, everything felt certain. This was more than anything Ryan had felt before; it felt like destiny.
This was meant to be. Never had Chad appeared happier than in this very moment, a fact unmistakably evident in his eyes, his beaming smile, and the way he...
“Hey.” Chad smiled brightly, offering his hand to Ryan.
Ryan accepted the offered hand, and Chad assisted him in descending the final step, their closeness growing as Chad pulled him in.
"You..." Chad's gaze swept up and down Ryan, his voice tinged with awe, "...look incredible!"
Ryan's cheeks flushed, and he spun around in a playful circle. "Well, yeah, but only for you," he said with a sheepish grin, adding a touch of dramatic flair to his response. Forever an actor.
Chad chuckled at Ryans antics, his smile appearing even broader. Ryan found himself entranced by Chad's gaze.
"Ryan," his sister's voice resonated in his thoughts. "Snap out of it, Ryan. Are you there?"
Returning from his reverie, Ryan replied, "Huh? What did I miss?"
"The car's here," she quipped, a playful grin playing on her lips. "Ready to go?"
With a renewed sense of awareness, Ryan grinned back, the excitement palpable. "Absolutely, let's do this!"
As Ryan and the group made their way toward the grand entrance, he couldn't help but notice the emotions that illuminated both Sharpay's and Kelsi's faces. The soft light of the chandelier danced in their eyes. Their faces were practically beaming with excitement for the upcoming night.
Amidst the anticipation, he couldn't help but notice the way Sharpay and Zeke exchanged glances – a silent promise of enjoyment painted across their faces. Similarly, Kelsi and Taylor shared a look that spoke volumes about their shared enthusiasm, solidifying the certainty that this night would be A Night to remember.