Love and the Weather

Kelsi's jaw clenched as she glanced out the window from her bedroom.

"Of course! Why wouldn't it rain on my wedding day?" She pouted pathetically. "I just HAD to have an outdoor wedding at Lava Springs…I couldn't be traditional and have my wedding indoors."

"Wow, it is really pouring out there," Martha said as she glanced out as well. Gabriella and Taylor turned to give her silencing glares.

"Someone's been spending way too much time with the airheaded Wildcat," Sharpay scoffed.

"Hey! Jason is not an airhead!" Martha exclaimed with a slight glare.

Sharpay chuckled, "Keep telling yourself that sweetie."

Gabriella sighed laboriously, "Can you two stop? We should be focusing on cheering up Kelsi."

Taylor placed a hand on Kelsi's shoulder, "We'll figure something out, Kels."

"Like what? Did you happen to be smart enough to book a back up location? Because apparently my mother forgot to do that," Kelsi said bitterly. "God, this is so sad. Here I am in my wedding dress with my hair and make up done and yet I will not be getting married today."

Gabriella sighed and sat down beside of her and placed an arm around her, "Taylor's right, we will figure something out. I mean we are Wildcats. We've been in worse situations than this right?"

"Cue the inspiring crowd rallying speech," Sharpay muttered sarcastically.

"God, Sharpay, will you just shut up? You are not helping at all!" Taylor snapped.

"Hey, I helped pick out the wedding dress! That's all the 'helping' that I'm willing to do," Sharpay said as she studied her nails and smoothed out the wrinkles in her bridesmaid's dress.

Kelsi's cell phone rang from her bedside table. Martha picked it up and checked the caller ID.

"It's Ryan," She said. Kelsi held out her hand to take it but Sharpay intercepted.

"Are you crazy? You can't talk to the groom before the wedding…it's bad luck!"

"Bad luck? I think it's a little too late to be worrying about bad luck, Shar," Kelsi told her as she reached for the phone again.

"No, there's still a chance that this wedding might happen. As much as I hate to admit it Gabriella is right. This IS a wedding full of Wildcats," Sharpay said as she answered for her. "This is Kelsi's phone."

"Shar? Can I speak to Kelsi please?" Ryan asked.

"No you cannot. What kind of terrible groom are you anyway? You know better than to speak to the bride before the wedding," She said as she scolded her brother.

"Sis, it's raining," He stated as if it were obvious. Sharpay sighed and stepped outside of the room. She motioned for Taylor to follow her. Taylor gave her an annoyed questioning look before obliging her. Once the door was closed behind them Sharpay continued her conversation.

"Yes I know it's raining, jerk, but that shouldn't stop this wedding now should it?" She asked curtly.

"Hang on, you want ME to fix this?" He asked.

"Um, YEAH. You are the groom aren't you?"

"Well, yeah, but I don't see how-"

"Ugh, I'm tired of you. Maybe Taylor can whip you into shape," Sharpay said as she handed Taylor the phone. She could hear Ryan protesting as the phone switched hands. Taylor grinned evilly as the phone landed in her hand. "Let him have it, Taylor."

"Gladly," She said as she lifted the phone to her ear. "Evans, you better be working on a solution. This is your WEDDING DAY. And don't give me this 'impossible' crap. You've got the ever proud back to back basketball champs there with you so I don't think 'impossible' is an issue."

"Taylor-"

"Bottom line, Drama King, you've got a brokenhearted fiancé over here and you need to swoop in and save the day! Get to work or I WILL find you," Taylor said sternly as she hung up before Ryan could invent more excuses. "Well, that was therapeutic."

Sharpay chuckled, "I know right? Why do you think I'm so bossy?"

Shortly after the two re-entered the room Kelsi's phone rang again with Ryan's number on the ID. Taylor automatically answered.

"We talked about this, Ryan-"

"Um, Tay, I'm not Ryan," Troy said with a chuckle. "Can I please talk to Playmaker?"

"You're not gonna do something stupid like give Ryan the phone once Kelsi's on the line are you?"

"Trust me I do not want to risk your's, Sharpay's, Martha's, or Gabriella's wrath," He told her.

"Fine, how's Chad? Is he behaving?" Taylor asked.

Troy chuckled, "Oh he's behaving. Espescially after that lecture you just gave Ryan. Believe me he won't be risking anything today."

"He better not…unless of course you guys pull this off, and then he'll have won himself a pass," She said with a glare.

"I'll let him know, Can I speak to Kelsi, please?" He asked.

"Sure," Taylor said as she handed Kelsi the phone. Kelsi gave her a curious glance. "It's Troy."

Kelsi nodded and answered, "Hey Troy."

"Hey, Playmaker, how are you holding up?" He asked.

"Honestly? Not so good. It was supposed to be sunny today! This is ridiculous. I think the universe hates me," She told him in a disheartened tone.

"We're working on fixing this okay? So chin up. This day isn't over yet," He told her. She heard a commotion in the background and heard Troy muttering something under his breath.

"What was that?" She asked.

"That was your idiot future husband trying to steal back his phone," Troy told her. She heard Troy turn away from the phone, "Dude, we told you…it's bad luck! This situation is already difficult enough without throwing bad mojo into the mix!"

Despite the general downward spiral of the day Kelsi couldn't help but chuckle at that. It was amazing how many people were concerned with causing bad luck for her and Ryan's already horrendous wedding day. There was another commotion and loud rustling against the phone.

"Ryan, dude, let it go!" She heard Chad yell. "Hey, Small Person!"

Kelsi chuckled, "Why hello Chad."

"Just wanted to let you know not to worry about anything! We've got it all under control. You will not wake up tomorrow unmarried! That's a Danforth guarantee!"

"A Danforth guarantee? Do you work for Men's Warehouse now or something?" Kelsi teased.

"No, but how cool would it be to be that guy? I mean he's a snappy dresser with an awesome catch phrase!" Chad exclaimed.

"Wow, buddy, are you still on a high from the bachelor party?"

There was a pause from the other end of the line, "Is Taylor in the room?"

"Yes," Kelsi told him.

"Bachelor party? What bachelor party? There was no bachelor party!" He screamed into the phone.

Kelsi laughed and waited patiently, "Are you done?"

"Not quite. Bachelor party? What an old and pig headed custom! No intelligent morally minded male would EVER attend one of those! ...and now I'm done."

Kelsi noticed Taylor staring suspiciously at the phone and laughed even harder.

"Okay, now I've really got to go before the Choreographer over here tries to talk to you again. See you later, Small Person. And once again…we, the groomsmen, PROMISE this day will not end with a disappointed bride."

Chad quickly hung up the phone. Kelsi didn't even have time to say goodbye. She smiled at her bridesmaids and shook her head, "Maybe this day won't be so bad after all."

After about another hour of waiting Martha noticed a car pull in the driveway. Her eyes widened and she immediately pulled Kelsi away.

"Boys!" She yelled. Gabriella's head snapped up and she raced toward the window.

"Not just boys," Gabriella said as she watched the passengers get out. "Groomsmen."

"Really?" Sharpay asked as she quirked an eyebrow. "Does that include my baker?"

Gabriella shook her head at the blonde, "It's all of them, so yes."

"No Ryan?" Kelsi asked eagerly.

"Even if he was with them I wouldn't let you look," Gabriella chuckled.

There was a knock at Kelsi's door and Taylor cracked it open just enough to see who it was before opening the door completely, "What's going on, Mrs. Nielson?"

Kelsi's mom smiled brightly at the girls, "Well, there are some men down stairs that wish to discuss the plan for today with all of you. Well, all of you bridesmaid's that is. You girls go on down there. I'll stay up here with Kelsi."

The girls headed downstairs to meet the boys in the kitchen.

"Good afternoon, ladies," Zeke said with a smile.

"Oh my, don't you look handsome," Sharpay said as she reached up and straightened his tie.

"Yes, well I can't compete with you," Zeke said as he looked his girlfriend up and down. Kelsi had chosen midnight blue for her bridesmaid's dresses and for the boys' vests and ties.

"No one would expect you to," Sharpay smirked.

"So, how is this being fixed?" Taylor asked before she gave Chad a quick kiss on the cheek.

"In about another hour a car we'll come over here and pick up you ladies and Mrs. Nielson, and then about another half hour after that that same car we'll come back here for Kelsi and Mr. Nielson," Troy answered.

"Okay, that tells me nothing," Taylor said with a sigh.

Chad rolled his eyes and continued for Troy, "That car will be taking you all to Mr. and Mrs. Evans' house where Ryan and his parents have arranged for the ceremony to take place. They're trying to get in touch with all the guests as we speak."

"Oh I bet I know exactly where they're having it too," Sharpay smirked. "The foyer, right?"

"How did you know?" Jason asked.

"That's always been Kelsi's favorite room. Even though it's not really a room…it's more like a very large hallway with HUGE ceilings. Mom had this hand painted wallpaper put in, and there's a chandelier, and a grand staircase…"

"Wow, sounds like a good place to have a wedding to me," Martha said in an impressed tone.

"What about the reception?" Gabriella asked.

"That will still be at the Lava Springs Ball Room," Zeke said with a nod.

"Okay, sounds great," Taylor said with a smile. "See? I knew you guys could do it."

She kissed Chad on the lips quickly and looped her arm through his, "Now are we telling Kelsi or letting her be surprised?"

"Surprised, of course," Jason answered. "It's not fun if she knows what's coming."

Kelsi didn't know what to do with herself after the car had picked up the girls. Her nerves were beginning to sneak up on her. She checked her hair and make up once more, and began to pace. What if she tripped? She was Kelsi Nielson after all and she had been known to trip from time to time.

There was a knock at her door.

"Come in," She called. She smiled at her father as he came in the room.

He smiled softly at her, "You look beautiful, Squirt."

"Thank you, daddy," She said as he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"The car will be here in a few minutes. Are you ready?"

She swallowed thickly, "I don't know."

"What's wrong, babygirl?" Her father asked.

"Am I ready for this? You're married, so you tell me," Kelsi asked seriously. "I mean marriage is hard right? Especially with the type of business Ryan and I are in. I mean will we have enough time for eachother? And what if we want to start a family? I just don't know-"

"Kelsi," Mr. Nielson said calmly as he wrapped an arm around his daughter's shoulders. "Breathe, sweetie, breathe."

"It's just…this is HUGE," She said as she took a few calming breathes.

"I won't lie to you, Squirt, marriage is work, but I've seen you and Ryan together and I have no doubt that this will work. You've both already been through so much together, and you've got a great group of friends that are more than happy to be there for you. Besides, you love this boy, right?"

"Of course I do," She said with a small blush.

"Sometimes, Kelsi, love really is enough," He said as he kissed the top of her head gently. They stood there together for a few moments. Both were very aware of how life would change within the next hour. A knock at the door interrupted their thoughts. "That's the car. How about it? Are we ready?"

Kelsi took a deep breath, smiled softly, and nodded, "Let's do this."

The car pulled up underneath the car port at the main doors of the Evans' house, and Kelsi smiled brightly. This location might be even better than the one that she picked. Her father escorted her up the front steps and the two doorman immediately opened the front double doors. Kelsi gasped at the sight that greeted her. The doors opened up into the foyer where folding chairs had been set out for their guests. It was beautiful. The wedding party was already up front and Ryan smiled brightly as she and her father began to make their way toward him.

Kelsi couldn't help but be reminded how amazing the people in her life were. They had pulled this together when she had thought it was impossible. Her father kissed her on the cheek as they approached the end of the aisle and handed her hand over to Ryan. She smiled at her father warmly as he joined her mother. She sighed happily and smiled at Ryan.

"Hi," She whispered.

"Hi," He whispered back with a chuckle.

"I almost didn't think we would get here," She told him.

"We almost didn't," he told her honestly. "Our friends had to give me a push."

She took in a deep breath and released it contently, "This is perfect."

He squeezed her hand and winked, "Ceremony's not over yet."

The ceremony was beautiful. They had chosen to recite the traditional vows instead of write their own. They knew everyone had expected them to write their own, but they had both agreed that attempting to do that would only add to the stress of planning the wedding. When Kelsi turned back to hand Martha her bouquet for the exchanging of the rings she noticed Sharpay tearing up and surpressed a good natured chuckle. Sharpay would be denying that later. Once the rings were exchanged they were pronounced man and wife, and Ryan impatiently kissed her. She smiled against his lips and deepened the kiss only slightly. Now was not the place to get carried away. They would have to save that for later.

The end! Thanks for all the reviews guys! I appreciate it! and I'm sorry it took me so long to get this last one up! I had to decide what I wanted to do with it first! I hope you guys have enjoyed this challenge series! I had fun writing it!

Enjoy!

angellwings