Hi to every one, this is chapter 4 it would have been up sooner had it not been for the fact that i had important uni stuff to deal with (i.e accomodation) and strangley fitting a family BBQ to attend (dissapointingly there was no Troy's or Ryans there). still here it is, i had fun writting this chapter so i hope it doesnt dissapoint. Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing, it is really appricated and really helps me to write faster. Enjoy :-)

Chapter 4

"Troy!"

The word escaped Ryan's lips before he could stop himself and he stood frozen to the spot.

Troy turned upon hearing his name called and looked up the flight of steps and found Ryan standing at the top with a dopey grin on his face. Troy smiled nervously and swallowed, "God he looks good!" the golden boy thought, "the way that shirt clings to him…" Now it was Troy thinking the devilish thoughts.

"Hey Ryan" he finally answered.

Ryan's legs much to his surprise suddenly seemed to have found a life of their own and were propelling him down the steps to Troy's side. Gabbi, who had been talking to Taylor, Kelsi and Jason looked round and saw Ryan approaching Troy, who turned to her with a pleading look in his eyes.

"Girls, would you mind helping me put my tent up? Jason you're a big strong guy you would mind helping some damsels in distress would you, Thanks" she looked back at Troy and gave him a wink, he would thank her later she was sure and she and the others headed off to put the tent up.

"Great party" Troy said feebly thinking of something to say as the blonde boy reached his side.

"Thanks. I'm glad you could make it" Ryan answered truthfully and smiled

There was a moment's awkward silence which was broken by Chad returning with three big burgers wrapped in napkins.

"Hey Ryan" Chad greeted "Here you go dude, enjoy" Chad smiled his toothy grin as he handed a burger over to Troy.

"Thanks man" Troy answered and took a bite. Chad was right; it was like a section of heaven.

"Where's Gabbi? I got her burger here" Chad asked

"Oh she's putting up the tent over there" pointed Troy

"Ok, catch ya laters dudes" and he went over to join the others

Troy and Ryan stood looking at each other for a moment, stormy blue grey and piercing ice blue eyes met and locked onto each for a brief electric moment before they both looked away blushing.

"Would you um, like a drink?" Ryan asked looking at his feet and shifting nervously.

"That would be great, what you got?" Troy asked

"Loads come see!" Ryan said excitedly, his face lighting up as he raised his head. Something made him reach out and grab Troy's hand and meeting no resistance, the Drama King smiled and led the B'ball Star up the steps two at a time, hands entwined together.

Gabbi stood watching the whole exchange and smiled, "If they don't get it on tonight" she thought "then I'm not worthy of genius status" and she went back to erecting her tent with a grin on her face.

…HSM…

The party had been in full swing for over three hours, drink was flowing, music was playing and the last burgers and hot dogs were being served. People were dancing on the terrace and on the lawn. The out door lights had come on illuminating the grounds and creating shadowed places which several people had already began taking advantage of, namely Chad and Taylor, the pair had been going strong since the musical and they couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other. Kelsi and Jason were having a boogie on the patio, they to had been going since the musical, though slower and more cautiously, they were such a sweet couple like little kids. Gabbi and Sharpay were sipping Malibu concoctions of Sharpay's invention and were chatting to Zeke who was enjoying the attention.

Troy and Ryan were seated on a bench in a corner of the terrace drinking JD and coke, the sky over head had warm peachy orange glow as sun slipped below the horizon. Both boys had barely left each others side since Troy had arrived. Ryan was really happy, they had been chatting for the last few hours about anything and everything and he was finding they had a lot more in common than either had actually realised. They liked the same films, similar food, they both disliked spiders they even liked similar music which shocked Troy as he expected the Drama King to like only show tunes.

"Hahaha I guess there is more to me than meets the eye huh" Ryan had laughed

"I guess so" Troy had said realising there was whole another side to the guy he fancied, and this only made him like him even more.

Troy had gone from being totally nervous to totally relaxed, partly down to drink, they had both had a few, but mostly because Ryan was such easy company.

"Could this guy get any cuter?" he thought as he laughed at Ryan's story about Sharpay at kindergarten, Troy loved the way that Ryan talked faster and faster when he got exited and made dramatic gestures to emphasise a point, he had just done a hilarious impression of his twin throwing a tantrum when a voice interrupted them.

"You guys aren't talking bout lil' old me now are you?" Sharpay asked her eye brow raised and half smile playing on her glossed lips.

"Now what would make you think that?" Ryan asked his face a picture of perfect sweetness, except his cool blue eyes which danced mischievously.

"Ry, if you're not careful I shall have to tell Troy about the time I found you playing with my dolls when you were little. Oops wait…I just did!" she chuckled as Ryan turned a brilliant shade of crimson. "Why does she have to choose this time of all times to embarrass me?"

Troy looked up at Sharpay, "Hey! Barbie was my best friend to!"

Sharpay looked at him in disbelief and shook her head "Did Troy just defend my brother?"

"What ever, look I came over to ask if either of you wanted the last hot dog?" she said

"Ooh me!" Troy said

She handed Troy the hot dog in a bun, patted her brother affectionately on the head, she loved him really, blew a kiss said "tootles" with a little wave and sashayed back over to join Zeke who had finally put down the BBQ tongs.

"Thanks" Ryan smiled at Troy

"What for?" Troy asked looking puzzled

"Not laughing" the blonde answered

"No problameo" Troy smiled "any way that doll meant everything to me"

"Sure" Ryan laughed and Troy smiled.

Ryan picked his glass up from beside him to take a sip, his eyes flicked over to Troy who had begun eating the hot dog. Ryan watched as he took the sausage between his soft lips, ketchup oozing out the sides, his mouth closing slowly, sensually, "Christ" Ryan thought "the guy even eats sexily" and suddenly started choking as a thought entered his mind.

"Oh my god, Ryan!" Troy exclaimed patting him on the back, "are you ok?"

"Fine" Ryan wheezed "drink went down the wrong way, that's all"

He put his glass down, looked up and smiled at Troy, then started to laugh.

"What's so funny" Troy asked

"You have ketchup round you mouth, a ketchup tash!!" Ryan giggled

Troy reached up and wiped at his mouth.

"Gone?" Troy said looking a Ryan

"Nope you still have a bit right about…" the blonde boy leaned over to Troy and placed his finger gently on his upper lip "here".

Ryan's eyes looked up and found Troy's looking directly into them, for a brief moment neither of them moved, and then Ryan began to ever so lightly run his finger over Troy's upper lip, removing the small red splash of ketchup. The light touch of Ryan's finger against Troy's skin felt like softest of silk and the effect it was having upon his body caused shivers shot up the length of his spine.

"There" Ryan all but whispered "got it"

"Thanks" Troy breathed

Ryan smiled as he with drew his touch. He looked at the darker haired boy sitting beside him whose eyes looked into his with a mix of questioning and something the blonde couldn't read. The Drama King's eyes flicked briefly up at the up the sky, the first stars of the evening twinkled high over head, he looked back at Troy "he just looks so cute" Ryan thought and before he new what he was doing, his inhibitions loosened by the drink, he leaned forward and placed a small but sweet kiss upon Troy's lips, before pulling slowly away.

Troy was stunned and sat motionless, eyes wide, his breath caught in his throat.

"Shit! What have I just done?!" Ryan thought totally miss reading Troy's silence and frozen demeanour. He stumbled up from the bench mumbling something about drink and ran off along the terrace.

Troy snapped out of his trance. "Ryan kissed me!" he put his hand up to lips; the spirit of the kiss still lingered faintly. "Ryan just kissed me and I reacted like a total fucking coward!" he realised jumping up from the bench.

"Ryan, wait!" he called running off in search of him.

Chad emerged from behind the hedge were he had been with Taylor.

"Did I just see…?" he said turning to Taylor a shocked and puzzled expression on his faced

"Yeah, yeah you did" she replied

"Oh, right" he said realisation dawning on him

"Looks like we gotta do some damage control" Taylor said looking at her boy friend

"No, I need to" the jock said decisively heading off after Troy

…HSM…

Ryan ran off through the groups of people, down the steps, through the maze of tents, into the darkening garden. He just wanted the ground to swallow him whole, his cheeks were burning. He finally sat hidden behind a large statue in a dark corner of the garden. He felt so stupid.

"Of course Troy isn't gay, and now he probably isn't even my friend, I mean sure I like him but I would rather have a friend than nothing" Ryan smacked his palm against his head "and now he probably isn't even that! And we were getting along so well! I thought he was…I don't even know what I thought" Tears began pricking the sides of his blue eyes.

"Ryan, you there?"

Ryan looked up; it was Gabriella walking towards him.

"I saw you running off, are you alright?" the girl asked concern shown on her features

"No, I just made a total idiot of myself"

She came and sat beside him. "Wanna talk about it?"

"I'm not sure you're the one I should talk to" the blonde said and looked at the ground

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Well it's to do with Troy…" Ryan began.

"I see" said the brunette and leaned in closer.

…HSM…

Troy was searching the terrace, "have you seen Ryan?" he was asking the guests. No one had. Troy was getting desperate. He had to explain the situation but now he thinks he might have blown it. Ryan had vanished for nearly an hour. He went over to Sharpay feeling a little afraid

"Sharpay, um have you seen Ryan any where?" he asked nervously

"Nope, last time I saw him he was with you. Why? What's happened?" the blonde girl questioned, a suspicious look in here eyes.

"Oh nothing, erm if you see him can you tell him I want to talk to him?"

"Ok, I will do Troy" she agreed, still looking highly suspicious.

"Thanks" Troy turned to continue with his search when Chad came up to him.

"Hey dude…" Chad said

"Have you seen Ryan?" Troy cut in

"No, but can I talk to you its kinda urgent" Chad asked his friend

"Ok, what about?"

"Right, I dunno how to say this, but…ok, here goes I saw you with Ryan" Chad said with difficulty

"Oh, I see, I can explain…" Troy began

"There's no need, its ok" Chad smiled "all I need to know is do you like him?"

"…yes, Yes I do" Troy said slightly in shock at Chad's reaction

"Then go find him dude!" the jock beamed his toothy grin and slapped his hand on Troy's back.

Troy didn't need telling twice he turned and headed into the crowd of people dancing, he spotted Taylor.

"Taylor have you seen Ryan? Its important that I tell him something" Troy said anxiously.

"Tell me what Troy?"

Troy looked around and found Ryan coming up the steps from the garden, Gabriella following him behind looking at Troy meaningfully.

"Ryan" Troy said approaching him, "I wanted to say…"

"It's ok Troy, I understand" Ryan said interjecting, his eyes were slightly red, he had obviously been crying "it was silly of me, I'm sorry I…"

Ryan never finished that sentence, for Troy reached forward slipped his arm round Ryan's waist pulling him into his chest and his lips clashing softly into his. He released Ryan slowly and looked at him; his eyes wide and mouth open, it was now the blonde who was struck dumb, which was good for Troy as it gave him the chance he needed.

"I probably should have told you sooner Ryan. I like you, a lot. I have done for a long time, since the musical in fact. I just never found the confidence to say all that I needed to say until I thought I had lost you as a friend. I was a coward over on the terrace. I guess I was still afraid of what people might say. I guess I was wrong."

Troy said looking round at the guests who had all stopped what they where doing and were staring in gob smacked amazement at the two boys. Chad and Taylor were smiling and nodding their agreement, Kelsi and Jason also smiled their approval. It was the ever so tipsy Sharpay who broke the silence.

"I knew it! I knew it! That's why Troy didn't fall for me, hic!" She slumped onto Zeke, "Go Ryan! Woo!! What did I tell you huh!" She cheered in a slurred voice.

Troy turned back to Ryan, who was still stunned, "So what do you say we go back and try that kiss again, and this time, I won't freeze up?"

"But people are staring" Ryan said, suddenly shy of the attention upon him.

"Let them, I have nothing to be ashamed of"

Ryan smiled and leaned in still slightly apprehensive, his lips met Troy's and this time Troy didn't freeze but deepened the kiss, his tongue tracing Ryan's delicate lips begging for entrance which Ryan accepted capturing Troy's bottom lip, he tasted like strawberries soaked in the sweetest sin.

It was Gabriella who started the applause smiling happily, her talk had worked. Slowly the guests caught on and began clapping getting louder, then cheering, then whistling at the still embraced couple. Chad having felt the kissing fest had gone on long enough called out

"Enough with the P.D.O.A guys, we gotta a partay to get on with" he laughed

The boys broke apart, still holding hands, Ryan's cheeks flushed, Troy grinning sheepishly. The crowed laughed, "Someone get these guys a drink" Zeke said, "drinks all round!"

The crowed cheered and began to dance as Sharpay cranked up the volume on the sound system. Troy and Ryan smiled at each other and went to join in the party, for the night was still young and they knew that this night was only going to get better.

Hope that pleased people, next chapter up soon though it make take some time as i have a busy week ahead. Next chapter will see the party continue into the night and things heat up between troy and ryan also you will find out gabbi's convo with ryan. Please review as always they are greatfully recieved. message me with any suggestions or questions what ever. Thanks Tootles :-)