AN: Again, don't own anything. I just want to thank my Beta, Baby Bro. He's not only the smartest and nicest guy in the world; he is in fact my lil brother. Also, a big thank you to my readers, I would probably still write this anyway, but it wouldn't be nearly as much fun without having reviews to look forward to, so thank you. Now, on to the REAL meat of the story.

Chapter 1

It was Friday evening and Chad was in the employee's locker room preparing for a lonely weekend off work. Somehow, Troy and Taylor had both been scheduled so hanging out with either of his best friends was out of the question. His other friends would have teased him for that thought but Taylor really was just a friend. She knew he was interested in someone else, though not who, and he was well aware of her lack of attraction to the male species.

Distracted as he was by trying to come up with weekend plans, Chad almost missed the slightly smaller frame standing directly behind him when he went to turn around. Luckily he managed to stop just inches before a collision could occur. Not so luckily it also left him close enough to feel Ryan's breath on his face. Both boys froze before Ryan woke up enough to take a step back, trying to suppress a smirk as Chad fought to quell the sudden heat in the pit of his stomach. Finally Chad cleared his throat and spoke into the tense silence.

"Sorry 'bout that, didn't hear you come up. Did you need something?" Ryan stopped trying to hide it now and let a smirk blossom on his face.

"Not really, I was just giving you a chance to ask." Confusion creased Chad's brow.

"Ask what?" He said, though he had a sneaking suspicion he knew the answer already, it'd been on his mind since the baseball game three days prior.

"Well, we haven't been away from prying ears since the game, so I suppose it's possible you've forgotten." Ryan looked like he sincerely doubted it. He took a step closer causing Chad to step back. "Come on, don't you want to know what I meant?" Ryan taunted, tilting his head ever so slightly.

Chad couldn't speak, could hardly even breathe, all he could do was swallow and nod. Ryan's smirk widened as he pulled Chad's freshly washed jersey from where it was hanging, tucked into his back pocket.

"It's like you said, I'm part of your team." He took another step in causing Chad to once more step back, only to find he couldn't go any farther as his back hit the lockers, the door to the one belonging to him still wide open next to him. Without breaking eye contact, Ryan leaned in and hung the jersey in the open locker, before turning away and sauntering out.

Finally able to move, Chad groaned softly and slid down the lockers til he was seated on the floor in front of them. His heart was thumping so loud he was surprised not to hear an echo in the empty, mostly concrete room. Taking a few deep, shuddering breaths he brought himself back under control and stood up. Hand shaking he pulled the jersey out and couldn't stop himself from bringing the article to his face and inhaling deeply, knees nearly collapsing when he recognized the scent that had graced the hat Ryan put on him just a few days prior. It was crisp and clean, like clothes dried on a line outside in the sun, with a hint of something pine-y as an undertone that was almost impossible to describe. 'If I live to be 100,' Chad thought to himself 'I'll never be able to define that smell as anything other than purely Ryan.' Holding the shirt close, so that every shift in the air blew that smell up to him he grabbed his pack, shut his locker, and left for the weekend, a far away look in his eye and a smile gracing his lips. The weekend looked better already.

Ryan walked out of the room, an almost giddy bounce in his step. If things worked out as planned, which, surprisingly they had a lot more than usual as of late, this weekend would be one for the records. Mind on his plans he let his feet carry him aimlessly and was surprised to find himself on the baseball diamond where he'd first started to reveal his crush. He'd expected the object of his desire to at most brush him off, or even hassle him about his "queer streak," or at the least not even notice the signs he was giving off. Imagine his delighted surprise when Chad not only noticed, but reciprocated.

His heart had nearly stopped when Chad passed him his jersey. He remembered being surrounded in the other's scent, deeply heady and masculine. He sat on the very same bench they shared that day and continued his reminiscing. So vivid were his memories he could almost hear the other boy's laugh and feel the heat of his knee bumping his as Chad's swung side to side. He remembered how it came to pass that he took that jersey home. Chad had started to give his hat back to him…

"Come on, man. Give it back, that's my favorite hat." Chad said, snatching for his cap off Ryan's head. Unfortunately he moved just a fraction too slow and Ryan managed to dance out from under his fingertips.

"But I like it, it's comfy." Ryan teased.

"Look man, you can keep the jersey for now, as long as you get it back to me by Friday, but I want my cap back." Chad bargained. The thought of getting to keep the jersey made Ryan's breath catch. A twinkle entered his eye as he looked at Chad and thought.

"Fine, I'll tell you what. I give you back your cap, but you keep my hat and promise to wear it sometimes, it almost looks better on you than it does on me."

He remembered his glee as Chad flushed and agreed, before snatching back his hat too quick for Ryan to change his mind. He'd taken the jersey and slept in it every night until Friday when he'd hatched the next step in his plan to get Chad.

Chad got in his truck to drive home. He'd started to put the jersey in the passenger seat before changing his mind and putting it on instead, inhaling deeply that scent that was quickly becoming a drug to him. Coming out of his stupor, he felt something in the breast pocket of the jersey. Reaching in he pulled out a neatly folded square of paper and smiled. Unfolding it he saw handwriting so neat and precise it almost made him feel clumsy just reading it. Dead center in the piece of paper were two words.

Call me.

Yep. This weekend was definitely looking up.

Once again Ryan was staring at his cell phone. It'd been two hours since he'd returned the jersey with his note hidden inside. 'I guess it's too much to hope he found it already. He thought. Hell, he probably just left the shirt in his locker.' The thought made his stomach drop. 'If he hasn't called by tomorrow afternoon, I'll call him.' Ryan thought with finality. He bit his lower lip, nervous. Sure in front of Chad he was Mr. Confidence but truly Ryan was extremely nervous that he would be rejected. 'Tomorrow. No matter what I'll talk to him by tomorrow.'

'Should I call him?' Chad had just gotten in his truck and found the note. Ryan's number had found its way into his cell after Chad found it in his yearbook, penned in the same precise handwriting that graced the paper in his hand. Ever since Troy had joined the all-school musical first semester Chad had seen a lot more of Ryan Evans, a boy he'd previously been unaware of as more than his twin sister's shadow. Ryan had taken it upon himself to help Troy practice and Chad, being a good friend (and inexplicably drawn to the peppy blonde, though he'd never admit it, even to himself) offered his support and watched their practice to critique from an audience viewpoint.

It was during the after party when Ryan was pressed against him as the danced with Taylor and Kelsey, respectively, that he realized that strange attraction was just that, attraction. For the rest of the party, Chad's eyes were glued to Ryan as he danced with just about everyone there, even one or two of the guys. That party was also the source of his apprehension. One of the guys Ryan had danced with was Jae Danvers, one of the hottest guys in school, and one of the few open gays.

'Why in the world would Ryan want me when Jae Danvers is obviously interested in him?' Chad wondered. Hanging his head for just a moment Chad started his car and drove home.

By the time Chad got home his mom had dinner all set and ready. She, his dad, and his 5 year old twin sisters, were already seated.

"Sorry I'm late; Ryan stopped me to ask about the talent show." He hoped his blush wasn't obvious. Luckily he'd remembered to remove his jersey before entering the kitchen. He could only imagine the looks his family would give him for wearing it when he didn't have any sort of game going on.

"Oh, what did he have to say?" His mom asked. Her honey colored hair and almond eyes were shining, her milk chocolate skin contrasting sharply with her undyed cotton blouse. His dad sat at the head of the table to her left. His bald head shone and his dark chocolate eyes matched the color of his skin. His mouth was turned down slightly in disapproval. The thought of his son dancing was more than a little distasteful. His sisters on the other hand constantly teased him about dancing like a ballerina. Little Tanya had even offered him her tutu. Tanya and Jessie were identical, distinguishable only by Jessie's hair always pulled back in two braids while her twin's hung loose. They sat in their booster seats, empty plates in front of them eagerly awaiting the steaming cheeseburger casserole sitting in the middle of the table. As he took his place at the end of the table, across from his dad, Chad responded, fighting to keep his voice steady.

"Oh, well he asked if I could hang out this weekend to learn some new moves." He explained, keeping his eyes down as he served first Tanya then himself. "I said I'd call him tonight after I made sure it was alright." He lifted his eyes to his mother as he passed her the casserole.

"Of course sweetie, just let us know where you'll be." And with that a comfortable silence descended over the table.

Chad sat at his desk in his room, laptop open in front of him, glowing screen showing him logged into his instant messenger, with none of his buddies logged on. After dinner he'd offered to do the dishes, then retired to his room where he'd fired up his laptop and proceeded to check his e-mail. He'd logged into his IM hoping someone he could talk to would be on, when that failed he picked up his latest novel, Dead Beat, a Dresden Files novel by Jim Butcher, anything to put off calling Ryan, to give him just a little while to calm his fluttering stomach. Too distracted to read he put down his book just as his mom passed by. She paused at his door to question him.

"Did you call Ryan and see when he wanted to get together?" Chad inwardly cringed at his mom's word choice. Would he and Ryan "get together"? Nonetheless he picked up his cell before replying.

"I was just about to." It'd been 3 hours since Ryan had confronted him in the country club's locker room. Breathing deeply, and glancing at the jersey laying across his bed, he hit the call button and held the phone up to his ear.

Ryan stared at his cell phone as it jingled in his hand, the screen telling him that Chad Danforth was calling. He shook himself out of his disbelieving stupor and answered before Chad could change his mind and hang up.

Chad listened to the phone ring, half hoping Ryan wouldn't answer and spare him the embarrassment. After five rings he was about to hang up when the sixth ring was cut off midway. A hesitant "Hello?" came across the line. Taking another deep breath Chad tried to keep his voice from shaking.

"Hey, Ryan? It's Chad." He smiled lightly as he successfully quelled the tremor in his voice.

"Hey Chad, what's up?" Ryan's voiced sounded like he was trying to force casual. It reassured Chad that he wasn't the only nervous one.

"Hey, um, I was wondering, I'm not working this weekend so, um," Suddenly his nerves were back full force. Did it sound too much like he was asking Ryan on a date? He forced himself to continue. "Did you wanna catch a movie or something?"

Ryan smiled at how Chad made it sound like this was his own idea and not spurred by a note snuck into a pocket like they were still in 7th grade. "Sure, a movie would be fun. Did you have one in mind?"

Chad breathed a sigh of relief, he'd still kind of expected Ryan to laugh at him. More confident now, Chad chuckled. "Actually, Yes Man just opened today and Jim Carrey is one of my favorite actors. Do you like comedies?"

"Who doesn't like Jim Carrey?" Ryan said, a smile evident in his voice. "What are the show times?"

"Just a second, let me check." Chad turned back to his computer screen and his fingers flew at the keys. Blessing his speedy internet connection he read off the times. "In the morning there's 8:50, 9:45, 11:10," he paused, would Ryan prefer a morning or afternoon show? Before he could continue Ryan spoke.

"Is the 8:50 too early for you? I love the early morning showings when barely anyone else is there." Chad stored that tidbit away for later before responding.

"Nope, 8:50 works. I'm an early riser anyway."

"Ok well, want to meet there? Or I could pick you up?" Ryan offered with a blush, counting his blessings that Chad couldn't see it.

"Sure, you can pick me up. Do you know where I live?"

Ryan's blush deepened remembering one day after school when he followed Chad home, curious as to the type of house the other boy lived in. "Yeah, I know where you live. I'll pick you up at quarter after?"

"Um, yeah, I'll be waiting. See you tomorrow." Chad was nervous again. Was this really a date, with Ryan picking him up and everything?

"Ok, tomorrow." Ryan agreed. "G'night."

"Good night." Chad replied softly and hung up.

That night, both boys fell asleep anxiously awaiting the next morning.