Chapter 4

The dreams came again. The thing was even bigger than before. Each time it bit me I was afraid it was going to rip my leg off.

But each time, Troy was there. And each time he chased it away he wrapped me in a warm embrace and kissed me.

This time I knew, that the thing could get as big as it wanted, Troy would always be there for me.

My phone was ringing. I rolled over and groped for it. I could still feel my lips tingling from Troy's last kiss.

"Hello?"

"Hey, did I wake you again?"

My eyes opened. "Yeah."

"Sharpay called me, she said she was busy this morning and wanted to know if I'd give you a ride to the hospital for your shot?"

"Ugh."

"Not the best second date, I know."

"I repeat, ugh."

He laughed. "So I'll pick you up at ten?"

"Yeah, sounds good."

I snapped my phone shut and checked the time, 8:30. Good, I'd have plenty of time to get ready.

I crawled out of bed, and slipped off my boxers, heading for the bathroom. I took a long, hot shower; I made certain to use plenty of conditioner.

As I rubbed the steam from my mirror, I was rather shocked when I saw my face. I reached up and felt stubble covering it. What the hell? I shaved two days ago, before the party. I barely had to shave once a week as it was. Great, I thought puberty was done having its way with me years ago.

I pulled the can of shaving gel and my razor from below my sink. "I just hope my voice doesn't start changing again."

Troy knocked on the door at 9:50.

I opened it. "You're early."

He smiled. "I could pace on the front step for ten minutes if you want?"

"As cute as that was, why don't you come in?"

I led him to the living room, and then headed for the kitchen. "I'm going to grab a protein bar. You want anything?"

"No thanks, my mom cooked a big breakfast."

I walked into the kitchen, as my stomach rumbled, and grabbed a bar from the pantry. My stomach rumbled again, and I grabbed another.

I unwrapped one and walked back into the living room.

"Hey, where are your crutches?"

I stopped, and looked down. I hadn't even realized that I'd been walking fine all morning. "I left them upstairs I guess."

"Is that a good idea? You probably shouldn't put too much weight on that leg."

I shook my head. "It feels fine. Let's get going, I want to get this over with as soon as possible."

He just nodded and stood.

We reached the hospital, and I was shown right to a curtain. Troy tried to stay in the waiting room, but I beckoned him back with me.

The doctor came in carrying a syringe. "Mr. Evans, good to see you. A lot of people chicken out on these."

I sighed and rolled up my sleeve.

"Ah yes, not in the arm today I'm afraid."

I considered asking Troy to go step outside, but was grabbed by the impulse to give him a little show.

I stood and dropped my pants, bending over the bed.

I heard a sharp inhalation of breath from Troy, and fought down the urge to giggle.

I didn't have to fight the urge for long.

"Now, you'll feel a little pinch."

I clenched my teeth as the needle pierced my flesh. Little pinch? Right.

I stood as I pulled my pants back up.

"Now let's take a look at those stitches."

I sat down on my violated ass, and brought my leg up onto the bed.

Troy's entire face was red. I tossed him the best grin I could muster.

The doctor pushed my pant's leg up and examined the bite. "My, this is healing at an amazing rate. If you keep this up we can take the stitches out tomorrow."

I nodded. "That sounds good."

The doctor stood and made some marks on my chart. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow then."

Troy and I walked to the parking lot in silence. The red hadn't faded from his face.

"See something you like?

"You did that on purpose."

"Well, maybe a little."

He grabbed me from behind, and wrapped his arms around my waist. "What am I going to do with you?"

I found my body leaning into him. "Take me to lunch, my treat?"

He laughed and released me. "Anything you want."

I sat carefully in his truck, attempting to balance on one butt cheek. It didn't help though. Whatever suspension the truck may once have had was long gone, and each bump in the road reminded me of my recent shot.

We had lunch at Wendy's. I eyed their selection of salads, but found myself ordering a bacon cheeseburger. Troy ordered a number one, no pickles.

I savored each delicious bite, and tried not to recreate the incident at Olive Garden the night before.

Troy and I finished our burgers at the same time, and I caught him staring at me.

"What, do I have ketchup on my face?" I brought a napkin to my mouth and wiped.

"No, just looking at the cutest guy in the world."

I felt my face start to burn.

He reached out and stroked my face. "Just telling it like it is."

"So what do you want to do now?"

"You could come over to my place and we could watch a movie or something."

"Sounds great."

We walked in his front door, and I heard someone in the kitchen.

"Jack honey, is that you?"

"No mom, it's me."

She stepped out of the kitchen, her hand in yellow latex gloves dripping with soapy water.

"Oh Troy, I didn't expect you home so soon."

She looked me over. "And who's this?"

He was blushing again. "This is my friend, Ryan. We're going to watch some movies, if that's okay."

She looked me over again. "Oh, Sharpay's brother, right?"

I nodded.

"Well I was just finishing the dishes, and then I'm going grocery shopping. Can I pick you boys up anything?"

"Is there still soda?"

"Yes, plenty."

She turned and walked back into the kitchen. "Well you boys have fun. Remember the rules, Troy."

His blush spread to his ears. "Mom!"

He led me into the family room.

I smirked at him. "Rules?"

"No boys in my room."

"I thought they were okay with you being gay?"

"They are, I wasn't allowed to have girls in my room before."

I couldn't help but laugh.

He rolled his eyes, then turned and pointed at a bookcase filled with DVD's. "Well, here's the family DVD collection, what do you want to watch?"

I glanced through the titles. "No musicals."

"Sorry."

I pulled Total Recall from its place on the shelf. "How about this then?"

He took the case from me and looked at it. "I never would've pegged you as a Schwarzenegger fan."

I took a seat on the couch, facing the TV.

"There's a lot you don't know about me."

"I'm looking forward to finding out all of it."

He popped the DVD in, and took a seat next to me on the couch, then started fumbling with the collection of remotes on the table to his left.

"How many remotes do you have?"

"Like, ninety I think."

Eventually he found the right combination and started the movie.

About ten minutes in I faked a yawn, and draped my arm across his shoulders.

Troy cuddled closer to me. "Does that move always look so lame?"

"Uh huh."

The rest of the week passed. Troy took me to the rest of my appointments, but I didn't give him anymore free shows. The stitches came out of my leg, and I really was healing fast. Already most of the teeth marks looked like old scars from childhood. I had to shave every day though, and I was beginning to wonder if even that was enough; if my hair was dark enough to show, I'd be sporting some serious five o'clock shadow half the time.

After each appointment we'd go to my house or his and cuddle on the couch watching movies and talking. He told me about how he met Gabriella, and I told him about the few times I'd tried dating before. We talked about my sister, and our parents. We talked about everything, and it was great.

We didn't have a chance to see each other the last weekend before class started. Coach Bolton had Troy and the rest of the team, tied up with preseason practice. I spent Saturday at the mall with Sharpay, Kelsi, and Taylor, the self proclaimed Basketball Widows, plus Gabriella who we made an honorary member, shopping for last minute additions to our wardrobes.

Sunday my parents came back, and it was impossible to escape from Mother's smothering. She brought me breakfast in bed, and kept telling me how worried she'd been about her little ducky.

I was worried about the first day of school. I thought back to my conversation at the mall with Gabriella before I went to France. I wanted a boyfriend who was out, not that he was my boyfriend yet or anything. He was still shy about even kissing me, but I hoped that was where this was headed. Would he be willing to come out to the whole school? Should I even care? He was out to everyone important to him and to us; his parent and all our friends. So what did it matter if the rest of the school knew or not?

It'd be so nice to be able to be with him during school though, not to have to sit next to him in class and pretend that we weren't dating. Not to have to restrain myself from admiring his body.

Sharpay and I spent the night planning our ensemble; there was a new crop of freshmen to impress after all.