Cry Havoc
"Revenge does not long remain unrevenged" – German Proverb
Ryan was on his way to the cafeteria for lunch to meet up with Sharpay when a hand roughly grabbed his arm. He was yanked into a nearby utility closet. The acrid scent of bleach was offset by a much more overwhelming, and intimately familiar smell that immediately told Ryan the identity of his abductor despite his dark surroundings.
"What do you want, Bolton?" he demanded impatiently. The blonde had been quite happily ignoring the ex-basketball player since Troy's suspension a week ago, but he had anticipated this conversation since the start of Sharpay's plan. Ryan had played it out in his mind a thousand times, imagining brushing the raging Troy off, denying any knowledge of the accusations and walking away as if he wasn't worth his time.
However, Ryan hadn't for one moment expected to be pinned by a pair of watery grey eyes made visible by the light creeping in from under the door, and be asked simply "Why would you do that to me?"
"Why? Why! Why would you just give up on me? On us?" Ryan retorted. "You hurt me, Troy. You goddammed near broke me! I think it's only fair that I get a little payback," he spat, "and don't give me that bull about ruining everything because you know just as well as I do that you'll be back playing on the team by next semester and the school will be back to its preppy norm."
"NO!" Troy shot back. "You need to tell the principal that it's all lies! This could go on my permanent record, how well do you think that's gonna go over with any colleges I apply to? Ryan, I know we didn't end so good but this could affect my entire future! Gabriella isn't talking to me because I'm 'just another bigoted jock'," Ryan felt decisively satisfied by this, "and my mom's talking about me getting my priorities straight! Please, if you ever cared about me, fix this. Do what's right." Troy almost whispered the last words.
Ryan wasn't in a particularly sympathetic mood however, and told him flat out no before turning to leave. He had barley turned around before strong arms wrapped around his waist and he was pulled flat against his ex lover.
"Please. Do this for me. Otherwise… who knows what the rest of the guys on the basketball team could do. Even though we're not together anymore, I don't want you to get hurt." The soothing words brought into sharp focus the previously receding ache in the blonde twin's chest, who angrily shook off the athlete and stumbled into the empty hallway.
"Ryan! Don't do this, or we will get our own back." Troy called after him.
Ryan didn't spare a glance for Troy… but did allow himself the satisfaction of flipping him off.
Ryan and - once she was brought up to speed- Sharpay, didn't spend lose a great deal of sleep over the basketball team's threat of retribution. Without sounding too arrogant, the Evans wealth rendered them untouchable to just about any repercussions the jocks could throw at them. The twin's formidable fitness and (expensive) self-defence capabilities meant that a physical threat was a moot point, while Sharpay's more aggressive tendencies and popularity stopped any rumours the team might spread. They had more pressing concerns anyway with the upcoming auditions for the spring show; another of Kelsi's creations called 'Diving Lines, Unbreakable Bonds' about a brother and sister torn apart amid the bloodshed of World War Two-era occupied France was quite literally written with the twins in mind. Sharpay was confident that, with Gabriella and Troy at odds over the homophobia accusations, a return to their former glory was inevitable.
On this particular Monday morning, the twins arrived late to school and had entered homeroom to find the place in an uproar. Rings of students dotted the landscape of the classroom, talking furiously. At the centre of the circus, Kelsi was sitting with her head in her hands while Gabriella and Taylor were obviously trying to comfort the distraught girl.
"What is going on in here?!" Sharpay demanded. All conversation in the room stopped, and several people couldn't meet either of the Evans twins' eyes. It was Kelsi that finally looked up and told them "They're cancelling the show."
"WHAT!" Sharpay exclaimed, while a dazed Ryan simply asked "Why?"
"Apparently, last night some thugs broke in and tore the auditorium apart. The sound systems, the lighting, and heck even the stage floor was ripped up. The walls were covered in graffiti and lots of chairs were ripped up. The room isn't fit to hold an audience, never mind a production… the repairs just won't be ready in time." Kelsi finished and resumed rubbing her forehead.
"Well… do they have any idea who did it?" The male twin asked weakly, and both Ryan and Sharpay scowled when a familiar voice answered.
"I think it was some kids from West High," Chad piped up from the back of the room causing several people to turn and look, "Tryin' to get even for the last game."
Several people in the room nodded in agreement, and the whispered discussions flared up again. Ryan's eyes travelled up past Chad to the person sitting behind him. Troy looked up, and his and the blonde's eyes locked. The basketball player smirked and winked, before mouthing 'Well?'
'That's it,' Ryan though, 'The gloves are off now!'
So... yeah, tell me what you think. Critisism, Praise, ideas - all feedback is encouraged and accepted. Really big thanks to the reviewers and people who put this on story alert - really made my day
