What I've been Looking for

Chapter 4:Even if we're miles apart

The East High Students who work at Lava Spring and Ryan are putting on a musical. Kelsi loves it because she gets to spend more time with Ryan and do what she loves. After Gabriella leaving, things changed a bit, but now it's time for the talent show.

Ryan is backstage, hoping that this intricate plan that he has works.

Kelsi is onstage and begins to play when Troy enters. He sings a verse, and then Gabriella appears out of the crowd of East High students at the back.

Troy is surprised, but keeps on going. It ends up being a very special moment.

~

"Hey Kels," Ryan said  at lunch the first day back to school.

"Hey," Kelsi said.

" Kelsi, we've been hanging out a lot and I was wondering, will you be my girlfriend?" Ryan asked.

"Of course!" Kelsi exclaimed.

She was so excited.

~
The spring musical is announced, and Kelsi is writing it and Ryan is doing the choreography for it.

Kelsi is in the music room, working on the finale when Ryan enters. He listens for a moment before sitting down at the piano. He begins to play the song that is sitting on the piano stand, which happens to be Just want to be with you.

"It's beautiful,"Ryan says.

"Thanks," says Kelsi and laughs.

"No really. The prom number, everything. But really, what are you doing for prom?" Ryan asks.

"Well it's two days before the show. I'm writing orchestrations and fixing charts. I still have to write lyrics!" Exclaimed Kelsi.

"Great! I'll pick you up at 8," says Ryan.

~

"He did what?" Gabriella exclaims.

"He asked me prom!" Kelsi exclaims back.

"Aww Kels. That's so great," Gabriella says.

~
Thinking that her father wouldn't be home, Kelsi invited Gabriella, Taylor and Ryan to her house to study one Saturday. Kelsi's father started to beat her up, and all Kelsi could do was lay on the floor.

Hearing the commotion inside the house, Gabriella, Taylor and Ryan slowly opened the unlocked door. The three of them saw what was happening and went outside, where the called 911. By the time the police and the ambulance arrived, Kelsi was unconscious, so she was taken to hospital while her father was taken to the police station. Taylor, Ryan and Gabriella went to the hospital soon after Kelsi.

Gabriella was the most visibly disturbed by what they saw. From the hospital, Gabriella called Troy, who was previously at basketball practice, to update him on the situation. Troy promptly joined them at the hospital.

About two hours later, a nurse emerged out of a room.

"You guys here for Kelsi Nielsen?" The nurse asked.

The gang nodded.

"You may see her now," The nurse said.

Gabriella was even more heartbroken when she saw Kelsi's appearance. Her hair had clearly been pulled. Her face was covered in scars, scratches, cuts and bruises. She was so pale. She was attached to a couple different machines. The rest of her body was covered by the covers of the bed, so the gang could only assume this was the tip of the iceberg. Troy put his arm around Gabriella. Ryan sat down in the chair beside the bed, and he and Kelsi took each other's hands.

"Kelsi, why didn't you tell us?" Gabriella asked.

" I never wanted to bother anyone with it. I thought I could handle it myself," Kelsi explained.

" Kelsi, don't ever think that ever again," Ryan said.

~

The next day, a social worker came to see Kelsi at the hospital.

" Hi Kelsi. My name is Sarah. I'm going to be your social worker, okay?" Sarah asked.

Kelsi nodded.

" So you know that you should be able to go home tomorrow?" Sarah asked.

Kelsi nodded again.

" We think we've found a family that would be a good fit for you. They do have three kids. How does that sound?" Sarah asked.

" Good," Kelsi replied.

Anywhere that wasn't her father's house sounded good to her.

" Would you like to meet the mother tomorrow?" Sarah asked.

Kelsi nodded.

~

The next day, Kelsi went with the her new mother and Sarah to her old house to collect her few belongings. Kelsi went to her father's room and took his suitcase. She took a picture of her mother from his room, the moved on to her room. Sarah and Kelsi's new mother Melanie were shocked. The room contained a dresser, a small keyboard and a blanket, folded neatly in the corner. No bed. Kelsi took her few items of clothing and her piano music. She knew that Melanie had a piano.

"I'm ready to go," announced Kelsi.

Kelsi didn't want to spend more time in the house then she needed to. In ten minutes, this house would be in her past.

~

Despite everything, Kelsi wildly excited to go to prom. She got all ready. Ryan and her danced the whole night. They had an amazing time.

When they got in the car, Ryan looked at Kelsi.

" Kelsi, I love you so much. I want to be with you forever. This is more than a high school fling for me," Ryan declares.

Those words meant the world to Kelsi after everything that had happened.

"I'll always love you Ryan. Even if we're miles apart," Kelsi said and smiled.