Summary: Even though they want each other, they can’t have each other.

Author’s Note: Set in the country club house in HSM2 – but I haven’t even seen HSM2 yet, so I don’t know anything about it. Same place – different plot. Chaylor in later chapters, with Kelsi, Zeke, Jason and others appearing too. WARNING: Troypay, Ryella.

More Than Friends

One: Confusion

‘Ryan!’ Sharpay’s scream echoed deafeningly through the halls of the Evans’ summer house, following Ryan down the corridor and piercing his ears as the screech finally reached him. He let out a sigh, but was quick on his feet as natural instinct kicked in, and he started to run towards Sharpay’s “Room of Peace”, more commonly known as her bedroom.

‘Yes?’ Ryan said as soon as he entered the room, trying not to look to bothered at the fact he had to obey his sister’s every command. ‘Sharpay?’ Sharpay looked up, an expression of contentment on her face. She pointed to her window. ‘Um, you don’t like the view?’ Ryan thought quickly, mind whirring, ‘You can have my room if you like!’ He said desperately, not really thinking about what he was saying. He would do anything to please his sister. Sharpay threw him a look, and flicked her hair back.

‘No, stupid,’ she groaned, walking over to the window delicately, her glare turning to the pool outside. ‘Her,’ she pointed at the familiar face of Gabriella Montez. Ryan looked at her too, and Gabriella looked up, almost as if she could feel their gaze on her. He blushed and looked away again.

‘Er, Gabriella?’ He queried, still looking at the floor. Sharpay didn’t reply, she didn’t have to. ‘What… What about her?’

‘Oh, Ryan,’ Sharpay made a pitying face. ‘Oh, dear, brother… idiotic Ryan,’ the looked passed almost as soon as she had made it. ‘Gabriella has Troy. And, Ry, what do I want?’ Ryan paused – but that was enough to set her off again. ‘I have almost everything –’ she was starting to pace now ‘- popularity, money, the perfect voice –’ she smiled to herself at this, but then she was glaring again, her pacing momentarily paused ‘- everything apart from…’ Her gaze turned to the window again.

‘Troy Bolton?’ Ryan asked, following her gaze, glad Gabriella was back at her post again. His feelings for her didn’t even make sense – and besides, he couldn’t confide in anyone about it, Sharpay would hate him for it, and none of the oh-so-famous “Wildcats” were his friends. Sharpay looked up at Ryan.

‘Well, duh!’ Sharpay sat down on the bed, smoothing out her skirt. ‘Troy… Bolton,’ she raised her eyebrows as if in a knowing way, and chucked her swimming bag at Ryan. ‘Carry, and follow. I think our dearest little… Gabby needs a know-to-know about her “boyfriend”,’ Sharpay flicked her index forward towards the door to the pool, and trotted off.

‘Gabriella!’ Sharpay trilled, walking up to the lifeguard post, carefully tugging her shawl more closely around her shoulders. Gabriella looked up, a fake smile clearly hurting her cheeks. Sharpay smiled back, her smile as fake as hers. Ryan sidled up too, glad he was wearing a hat and sunglasses so she wouldn’t see him blush.

‘Hi, Sharpay,’ Gabriella replied tonelessly. Then she smiled up at Ryan, this time a real emotion. ‘Hey Ryan!’

‘Uh, hey… Gabriella,’ he replied, smiling back nervously. He pulled his hat further down his face, and poked his sunglasses back further on his nose, gaze pointed downwards. Gabriella seemed to notice this and appeared quite hurt, but pretended not to be. She turned her attention back to Sharpay.

‘So… Sharpay what did –’

‘Let me tell you about Troy Bolton,’ Sharpay chucked Gabriella’s towel onto the wet floor and sat beside her, careful not to touch her. Gabriella frowned, clearly affronted.

‘I think I already know about my boyfr -’

‘Uh, I think you don’t,’ Sharpay cut in rudely. ‘Troy Bolton, where to begin?’ Ryan looked at her to Gabriella and back, Gabriella looked clearly that she wanted to leave.

‘Basketball, popularity…’ Sharpay sighed, a look of pure pleasure on her face. ‘So, if has this… why would he need, well, you?’ Gabriella stared at Sharpay.

‘I can’t believe you would even try to think about -’

‘About what? Before you arrived, me and Troy were practically dating!’ Sharpay’s glare was too strong for Gabriella, so she ducked her head. Then she looked up, defiant.

‘Well, that’s not what I hear from Troy,’ Gabriella smirked. Sharpay blushed a deep red, and Ryan touched her arm, but she threw him off. ‘He told me you scared him with your obsessive flirting and stalking,’ Sharpay opened her mouth to shout something incoherent, and Ryan tugged her up.

‘Sharp!’ He hissed in her ear. ‘Go, just… go!’ Sharpay stalked off, leaving Ryan alone with Gabriella. He immediately turned quiet, and Gabriella offered a small smile.

‘Um…’ He started nervously, pulling his hat down even further. ‘I’m sorry about… Sharpay, I mean I don’t… She’s just…’ Gabriella smiled knowingly.

‘She wants everything, but Troy is just one thing she won’t get,’ Gabriella replied, patting the seat beside her. Ryan sat down, keeping his hands and legs to himself, barely on the seat anyway. ‘You never seem to talk to me,’ Gabriella said suddenly. Ryan looked at her. ‘I mean… I see you a lot, and…’ Ryan shrugged. ‘Don’t you like me?’

‘Gab -’ Ryan started, but Sharpay yelled his name again, and Ryan stood up. He offered a quick smile. ‘Duty calls.’ Gabriella smiled back, touching his arm lightly before turning back to the pool. Ryan froze momentarily at the contact, and he sucked in a breath, the blush returning heavily to his cheeks, before leaving the guard post.

Sharpay was waiting for him by the poolside, lying on the sunbed, stretched out, already sipping a delicately made drink. Ryan looked at her, and she gazed up at him without speaking, so he moved on. He pretended not to see the affronted look she gaze him as he passed, but he needed to be alone, sort out his thoughts.

Ryan eventually came across his bedroom, sitting down on the bed and looking down at the carpeted floor. His mind was mess. He didn’t even know why he had these feelings for Gabriella – he was supposed to hate her, hate her like Sharpay did. But he couldn’t help it. Everything about her just made Ryan want her even more – but that, supposedly, what the beauty of it all – Ryan could never have her. Not since Troy was her boyfriend. In many ways, he and Sharpay were alike: he wanted Gabriella, but couldn’t because she was going out with Troy, and she wanted Troy, but couldn’t because he was going out with Gabriella.

None of it made sense. Ryan put his head in his hands, as if the blackness would help him think. Gabriella Montez – the girl he… liked? Fancied? Fancied seemed so elementary school, but it fit the definition. He hardly knew her. He only knew she was smart and… that was about it.

He liked her for reasons he couldn’t even relate to. The way she smiled sent shivers down his spine – feelings he shouldn’t be feeling. When she accidentally or purposely touched him, it just felt… so… right. He couldn’t understand it. She was beautiful, and he couldn’t help but love her.

‘Love her?’ He said outloud, confused by his own thoughts. ‘I can’t love her… No, I just can’t… Sharpay will -’

‘Sharpay will what?’ Sharpay’s voice came to him as cold as ice. Ryan grimaced, and turned around to face his sister. Her face was the pure picture of wanting-to-know, eyebrows raised so high he thought they might disappear under her primped hair.

‘Uh, nothing…’ Ryan ducked his head, blushing furiously at his idiocy. Sharpay pressed on.

‘Well, obviously it’s something,’ Sharpay leaned forward. ‘I’ve lived with you all my life – I know everything about you – so I know when you’re lying,’ Sharpay paused shortly. ‘Who is she?’

‘She?’

‘Well, you said… “Love her? I can’t love her… No, I just can’t… Sharpay will…” So, who is the her?’

‘No-one, really, it’s just… no-one.’

Sharpay withdrew, pouting and checking her hair in the mirror before facing him again. ‘I’ll find out, bet on that.’

Ryan stared at the place she had just been standing for ages after she left. If she found out what he felt for Gabriella, she would freak! Ryan quickly gathered up a towel and headed outside.

He hadn’t even noticed her staring at him until she tripped on the handle of a broom. Troy Bolton looked up into the eyes of Sharpay Evans, not really sure if he should be surprised, shocked, angry or just plain freaked out by her sudden appearance.

‘Uh, hey… Sharpay,’ he said, turning back to the pool table he had been solitarily playing for the last hour. He felt like saying something sarcastic and cynical like And what do you want? but, it almost like a strange sort of barrier of sudden affection of Sharpay was stopping him.

‘Morning, Troy!’ Sharpay smiled at him, moving to him from the doorway, purposely brushing his arm with her hand as she moved to the side of the table.

‘Yeah, uh… morning,’ he replied. ‘Uh, Gabriella called me… said you were -’

‘Talking about you?’ Sharpay asked with a smile, she walked over to him, so close that they were only a couple of centimeters away from each other. ‘Well, why wouldn’t I? After all, you are the most gorgeous boy in school…’ She leaned forward to kiss him, but he moved quickly.

‘Uh, thanks, Sharpay, but, I… uh, have a girlfriend,’ Troy said hurriedly and nervously. Sharpay shrugged.

‘Well, if you don’t want to…’

‘I do!’ Troy hit himself hard, ‘I mean, I don’t – I have a girlfriend, Gabriella. You know that!’

‘Why are you so nervous?’ She was certainly teasing him now. The temptation was too strong for both of them, it almost like an invisible rope was pulling them together. Troy looked down, trying to block out the thoughts of Sharpay, trying hopelessly to remember his rep, his girlfriend!

‘I-I’m not n-nervous! Me, nervous? N-no…’ She was coming closer with every second. Sharpay paused momentarily in her tracks.

‘Anyway, back to Gabriella…’ Her voice was covered in saccharine sweetness, and she shot Troy a dazzling smile. ‘Why do you like her?’

‘Gabriella’s just…’ Troy shrugged, ‘she understands me.’ Sharpay threw her head back and laughed, her golden curls falling over shoulders. Troy frowned at her.

‘Understands you?’ She giggled, ‘Like anyone does! You know how long I have been…’ All the past of the room seemed to have gone, real pain and sadness were showing in Sharpay’s eyes as Troy looked at her. ‘I mean… Gabriella comes along and you take to her like glue? You hardly knew her!’ Sharpay sucked in a breath, and the emotion passed.

‘I…’ Troy sighed, and leant against the wall. ‘Are you okay?’ Sharpay seemed to have ducked her head and wasn’t facing him. She nodded, and her head shot up, and she flashed him another smile.

‘Kiss me,’ she mumbled. Troy looked at her, he had never known Sharpay to be like this. Almost as if she were… drunk? But he could tell she wasn’t – she was serious.

‘Sharpay, I have a girlfriend.’

‘Like you’ve said many times,’ she replied quietly, moving over to him and staring at him straight in the face. ‘Just… tell me you don’t want this.’

Troy’s mind was whirring, if he answered wrongly, Sharpay would hate him – (and for some odd reason he didn’t want that to happen) – or Gabriella would hate him. This was a mess. Of course, in the past, Sharpay had flirted with him, but this was different. More full-on. More… needy? But this… it felt as if he wanted it too. Like he really wanted her – Sharpay of all people! He looked at her, breathed in slightly and nodded. Sharpay didn’t need anything else. A small smile crawled across her face, she leaned forward to kiss him, glad he was leaning forward too, when…

‘Troy!’ Gabriella’s voice hit them like a bucket of ice water splashing a sleeping person. Sharpay whipped around and stared at Gabriella, but her gaze wasn’t on Sharpay, but Troy. ‘How could you?’ She croaked, on the verge of tears. Troy moved forward quickly, trying to take her hand, but Gabriella moved away. ‘I can’t believe you would ever…’ She stared up at Troy, the tears falling down her cheeks. ‘I thought you loved me…?’

‘I do! Gabriella, I love you more than anyone in the world!’ Troy said desperately. ‘Please just -’ Gabriella shook her head.

‘I’ve got to go,’ she whispered, walking away.

She didn’t know where she was going, but her feet did. It was only midday, the sky seemed dark already. Soon, Gabriella came to a door, that said “Thespians Only”. For a sickening moment, she thought it was Sharpay’s room, but when she knocked and heard the familiar voice, she knew it wasn’t.

‘Who is it?’ Asked the voice of Ryan Evans.

‘Gabriella,’ she replied sullenly, only slightly brightened by the sound of Ryan’s voice. For some reason it comforted her.

‘Oh, hold on a moment…’ Gabriella could hear him shuffling about – probably cleaning up stuff, before he opened the door. He was still dressed in swimming clothes, with a airy Hawaiian shirt on top. ‘You okay?’ She noticed immediately he wasn’t keeping eye contact, but for once didn’t care.

‘Can I come in?’ She asked quietly. Ryan nodded, opening the door wider and closing it behind her. She took in the sight of it, posters and picture of he and Sharpay were all neatly lined up on a chest of drawers, seventeen – counting all the school productions they had been in. ‘Nice room,’ she commented softly. Ryan shrugged, and, for once, met her eye.

In that moment, a rush of affection for Ryan came to Gabriella, and she smiled at him, only to be replied as he looked back at the floor.

‘You’ve been crying.’

‘Troy.’

‘What’s he done?’

He was talking to her as if he had known her all his life. Gabriella looked up at him. ‘Sharpay.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘But are you?’

That question seemed to affront Ryan, but he took it almost as if he had expected that.

‘I know most people think I’m Sharpay’s “poodle” but I do have feelings of my own. I am, truly sorry.’

Gabriella smiled at this, and put her hand to his face – feeling his muscles tense up as soon as she did it – ‘You’re a true friend.’

Ryan smiled weakly at her. ‘If I were your boyfriend I would never… ever…’ Her gaze was turning his legs to jelly, so he looked away slightly. ‘I would never ever do… th-that…’

Gabriella moved her hand off his cheek and lifted his face to her instead. ‘You’re a sweet guy, Ryan.’

For one, tantalizing, unbelievable moment, Ryan thought she was about to kiss him, but then she put her arms around his waist and hugged him instead. He took in the scent of her hair, the softness of her skin, the way his head fitted perfectly in the crook of her neck. He dared move closer, and, slowly, almost cautiously, started to stroke her hair with his left hand. He felt, rather than saw, her smile at this.

He wanted, inside, so badly to kiss her. To feel her lips against his, to find out what she tasted like and… and… He closed his eyes and forgot about that, only focusing on the now.

‘Can I stay here tonight?’

The words shocked Gabriella more than they shocked Ryan. He withdrew from the hug slightly so he could look at her.

‘Are you sure you want to do that?’ He asked. Gabriella paused for a moment, but nodded.

‘I don’t want to face Troy,’ she mumbled into Ryan’s chest. ‘I… I can’t. And you’re the only person I can trust right now.’ Ryan nodded.

‘I can sleep on the sofa, if you like?’ Ryan asked, silently hoping she said no.

‘I… I don’t mind,’ she flicked her eyes towards the bed in the centre of the room. ‘You could… stay with me… if you wanted.’

Ryan’s breath caught in his throat, and he nodded weakly. ‘Yeah… I’ll… I’ll do that.’

‘That was your fault! You had it staged, didn’t you? Just so you could break me and Gabriella up!’ Troy was fuming, pointing his finger at Sharpay numerous times, making it clear of the pounding hatred for her he was feeling right now. But, underneath that… he felt… seductive? He glanced at Sharpay, temptation arising, but anger pushed it down again. ‘I can’t believe you would ever do anything like -’

Her mouth was on his. His tongue darted out to meet hers, their tastes mingling slightly – he could taste the mint of her toothpaste, smell her shampoo as her hair got in his face… But this was wrong. He shouldn’t be doing this at all… So why wasn’t he stopping?

Sharpay, on the other hand, was milking it. Finally after all these years, Troy Bolton wanted her, needed her. After a few more seconds, he withdrew, glaring at her. She hadn’t expected that.

‘I shouldn’t have done that,’ he muttered, moving away from her. He leant against the pool table, all anger seemed to be washed away from him.

‘You wanted it.’

‘Did I?’

Sharpay looked up at his question, but didn’t answer. ‘Yes, you did.’ She said back, almost sharply. Troy looked at her for a moment, and the old Sharpay was back. But then she smiled weakly, and she was back again.

‘I’m just… confused. Let me get my head around things.’

‘Are we… together?’

Troy smiled, almost pityingly as he made his way to the door. ‘You know as well as I do, Sharpay. We can never be together.’

Night fell on the Evan’s country club house before anyone noticed. A party raged outside by the pool, loud music banging and hurting Gabriella’s head. She was standing by the window, Ryan’s arms around her waist, her head resting neatly on his shoulder. They had been in his room for hours, just talking about nothing and everything, all the while just enjoying each other’s company. Gabriella had cheered up eventually, forgetting about Troy almost completely.

‘You alright?’ Ryan asked, forgetting who and where he was, his head dipped down into the crook of her neck, gently kissing the skin there. Gabriella’s head turned to look at him, but didn’t stop him.

‘That feels nice,’ she mumbled to him, and Ryan immediately stopped, suddenly realizing what he had done. She smiled gently at Ryan’s action. ‘I’m fine… yeah. Just… worried about…’ She broke off, and she shed silent tears.

‘Troy,’ Ryan muttered, not bothering to keep the venom out of his voice. Gabriella looked up at Ryan, slightly hurt at Ryan’s tone. ‘How can you forgive him after what he did?’

Gabriella was staring at Ryan now. ‘He’s my boyfriend, and I love him, Ry!’ Ryan’s heart sank at the words.

‘Yeah…’ Even his voice drooped, and he moved away from Gabriella and sat down on the sofa. Gabriella went and sat by him.

‘What’s up?’

‘Nothing.’

Gabriella shrugged, and rested her head on Ryan’s shoulder. He was very careful not to shrug it off. For a moment there, through the hours he had spent with her that day, he had thought – for a moment – that Gabriella actually returned his feelings. That she felt the same. But it was all a lie.

‘I think you should leave.’

Gabriella looked up at him, surprised. ‘I…’

‘Please.’

Gabriella stood up. ‘You’re still my friend, Ry?’ He didn’t reply. Gabriella sighed, and sat down next to him. She leant towards him, whether to give him a hug or something more, Ryan wasn’t sure. Her lips touched his own, and Ryan wasn’t sure whether to respond or just wait until she withdrew. He couldn’t hate her for loving someone he already knew she loved. So, he succumbed. Ryan responded to her kiss, only meant to be a friendly gesture, but soon, it came clear to both of them it was much more than that. Gabriella slowly deepened the kiss, and Ryan had to bite back a moan at this, losing himself in her touch.

Neither of them heard Sharpay enter the room until she screamed. ‘Ryan!’ Ryan leaped off of Gabriella, looking pink as he turned to face his raging sister. Troy was by her side, staring daggers at both of them.

‘Troy!’ Gabriella said in a whisper, but he shook his head. Sharpay grabbed Ryan’s arm and slapped him across the face. ‘Hey!’ Gabriella rounded on her, ‘Don’t you ever slap -’ But Sharpay had already slapped Gabriella too. Troy didn’t even move or try to stop her.

‘Don’t you dare date my brother you slut,’ Sharpay hissed at her. Gabriella looked at Troy for support, but he was staring at Ryan, positively furious.

‘Sharpay,’ Ryan looked at his sister, still rubbing his cheek, but she silenced him with one look.

‘So this is the girl you were talking about earlier?’ Sharpay was clearly hurt. ‘Well tell each other everything!’

‘No, you tell me how you see everything and expect me to feel the same way!’ Ryan shouted back at her. Gabriella had never seen him so angry.

‘What were you saying about her earlier?’ Troy cut in. Ryan glared at Sharpay, but she stared back, defiant.

‘Ryan was having an angst and a moan…’ She began, and Ryan started forwards, but Gabriella took his hand and pulled him back. ‘Saying… “I can’t love her… No, I just can’t…” Moan, moan, moan.’ Gabriella had dropped Ryan’s hand. Troy was even angrier.

‘You…?’ Gabriella couldn’t even finish her sentence.

‘I have… ever since I met you,’ Ryan mumbled, not looking at her.

‘Oh, Ryan…’ Gabriella shook her head. She looked up at Troy. ‘I love Troy, Ryan. You know that.’

‘I know. I can’t help it.’

‘You love her?’ Troy’s voice seemed so deep against Ryan’s and Gabriella’s. Ryan didn’t reply. Troy stared at him. ‘She’s my girlfriend.’

‘You think I don’t know that?’ Ryan looked up at him. Gabriella looked at Ryan, and he looked back down.

‘I think me and you need to have a talk,’ Troy said to Ryan, clearly showing in his eyes, that “talk” meant “fight”. Gabriella re-took Ryan’s hand.

‘He’s not going anywhere.’

‘Oh, yes he is!’ Sharpay tugged on Ryan’s other hand. Gabriella stared at Sharpay. Ryan let go of Gabriella’s grip.

‘I love you,’ he whispered to her. Gabriella smiled, almost nervously.

‘I can’t,’ she replied softly. Ryan looked up, and all he could see was Troy running towards him. Then, all he saw was darkness.