A/N: Hi readers, this story is a bit AU, just roll with the story. Also it takes place before the first movie so there is no musical going on. Takes place at the beginning of sophomore year. Also the cliques aren't as tight as they are in the movie. Enjoy the story and please review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
I stood in my bathroom, looking in the mirror, examining my handy work. I've been doing this for over 10 years. I'm sick of doing it, but it's a good thing I'm good at it. Otherwise people would have known ages ago, who knows what my father would do and nobody wants a repeat of 5th grade. I shudder at the thought. I put away the concealer and other makeup. As long as I don't get water on my face, I should be fine.
When I walk downstairs, Shar's already down eating the breakfast Rachel prepared. Rachel, our cook, is amazing and one of the only people in the house that cares about us. The only other person that cares is Riley, the maid. They're like our second and third moms. Our real mom died in a car crash when we were 6. After that life went to hell.
"Hi Shar," I greet, faking cheerfulness that she sees right through. The only ones who can see through my mask are Shar, Kelsi, Rachel, and Riley.
Sharpay tackles me in a gentle hug. "Are you okay? I know he hurt you last night. I could hear him," Sharpay says, her voice laced with concern, fear and helplessness. There really is nothing either of us can do to stop him. Father is a muscle giant. Before he was a businessman, he was a MMA fighter and he was good. Still is.
"Yeah, he did, but I'm okay. He's still asleep, right?" I say to my sister, afraid that he might be lurking around somewhere.
"Don't worry, he's still passed out on the couch, sweetie." Rachel informs us, "Now sit down and eat; you're far too skinny." Rachel is always on us about eating enough because when we were younger, both of us were anorexic, between father's constant critiques and trying to be in shape for dancing. Eating healthy turned into our eating disorders. All that ended when he got too lazy to cook and hired Rachel. She always makes us eat 3 meals a day; we have a routine now. We wake up before father does to eat breakfast, lunch at school, and dinner while he's still at work. That's why I'm now wolfing down french toast, bacon, eggs, sausage, and peanut butter and banana toast at five o'clock in the morning.
An hour later we head off to school in Sharpay's pink car. Father only got it for her so he wouldn't have to chauffeur her around. I have an old black mustang that's really cool, but I bought that with my own money. Yes, believe it or not, I have a job. I teach Tap and Jazz dancing to eight to ten year olds at Liza's School of Dance. Cool right... right? Well, it's cool to me anyway.
School passes like a normal day, struggling through classes, ignoring stupid jocks, accepting apologies from their nicer teammates, and collaborating with Kelsi in my music composition class. All in all, a normal day, until gym. I thought I had it tomorrow. I'm not dreading gym because I'm rubbish at sports. I'm actually pretty good and coach Bolton isn't a butthead. What I hate is the locker room. I'm not ashamed of my body. I'm a dancer so my body is awesome, but I have bruises and scars that I'd rather not explain and subsequently have to lie about, then remember what lie I told who. Normally I'd just change in a bathroom stall, wear long sleeves and sweatpants, but I forgot to bring back my gym clothes from home. All I have in my locker is a T-shirt and shorts, which will show my scars and bruises. Why don't I ask to borrow someones? Because it's like 98 degrees outside, so it would be even more suspicious. This is going to be a long 55 minutes.
I steel my nerves and walk out of the bathroom stall. A couple of guys do a double take and motion to their friends. I wasn't lying about my arms and legs; they're literally covered in bruises and scars. There's barely any untouched skin. It's eerily quiet for a while. Before anyone can ask any questions, I walk out of the room, outside to the baseball fields where the girls and coach are waiting. I hear the boys behind me, their feet like thunder. Now that everyone is gathered around coach instead of looking at him or the girls swooning over Troy and Chad, they're looking at me, and not the usual looks. The ones from the girls that say, 'cute, quiet drama guy with an amazing voice' or the ones from the guys that say, 'weird, gay looking drama freak that's amazing at baseball'. Their looks are either concerned, curious, or shocked. After a few moments of staring I get fed up with it.
"Are we going to play or what?" I asked, irritated, folding my arms across my chest.
"Oh, right. Yeah. Okay, Chad (Boy's baseball Captain), Nicky (Girl's softball captain), Captains, pick teams." Coach says.
I'm on Nicky's team, first picked. Everyone knows I'm an amazing pitcher, I just don't have time to be on the team, not that the coach hasn't tried. Between my family crap, theater, my job, cheerleading, and my classes that are even harder because of my dyslexia, I don't have time for baseball. It would have been a fun game if people would STOP STARING AT ME! We won, yay. Before I get the chance to make my getaway, Coach Bolton stops me.
"Ryan, hang on a sec," he calls out to me waiting for everyone else to get out of earshot. "What happened to you? Is everything okay at home?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just fell down like two flights of stairs back home," I lie, trying to get him to back down.
He looks at me; I know he doesn't believe me. I just hope he doesn't call home. "I'm really fine coach. Nothing's going on at home," I add, trying to dissuade him. He eyes a particular bruise on my left bicep, It's a hand print gong around my entire arm.
"If you just tell me what's going on, I can help you and your sister." I can tell he really cares, but I can't tell him, not after what happened to my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Bailey, after Shar told her what happened.
"We're fine, Coach," I respond to him in my most normal tone of voice, keeping a casual expression on my face. Being an actor has its perks. I walk back to the locker room that's empty and change. Since it's the last period, I head out to cheerleading practice.
That's it for now, review please!
K9Kid out!
