A/N: Happy New Year's everyone!

Disclaimer: I don't own High School Musical, or the characters associated with it... damn.

During free period, Chad felt the need to work off some of his tension. Instead of just shooting around in the gym like he normally would, he decided to run some laps around the track. The track was relatively deserted. There were only two other people down there and they were both sitting in the middle of the football field, in the center of the track, stretching.

The only bad thing about running by himself, was he had time to think. He had time to think about his situation with Ryan, and what he was supposed to do about it. Ryan had clearly flirted with him earlier that day, but what did that mean? Was he just messing with Chad's head, or did he really like him? Chad couldn't help but smile at the latter.

As he rounded the track, something in the bleachers of the stadium caught his eye. Something with bright colors and a matching hat. He looked up again, and there sat Ryan Evans, watching him. Ryan Evans was watching him run around the track. Still looking at Ryan, Chad ran right into one of the hurdles that were set up for track practice later on in the day, and fell face first onto the ground.

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Ryan sat on the bleachers watching Chad run in circles. Damn he looked hot. He didn't know why he was attracted to Chad Danforth the way he was. He was hardly the type of boy he normally associated himself with and he definitely wasn't inexperienced when it came to boys. The darker boy had hair like a mop, he was an athlete, and he liked girls. That didn't mean that Chad didn't like boys, but figured he was straddling the fence.

Staring down at Chad, he noticed that Chad seemed to be thinking really hard about something. He didn't seem that focused on running, he looked distracted but determined. Ryan wished that he was the one that Chad was focusing on. He really did want to get to know Chad better. Sure they hung out over the summer, but they didn't really talk about personal stuff. They talked about their plans for the rest of the summer and activities going on at Lava Springs. They didn't talk about the deep stuff, and Chad's sexuality definitely wasn't a covered topic. Ryan liked the fact that they could have a true conversation. He didn't have that with anyone else, not even Sharpay. She just told him what to do and snapped at him.

All of a sudden, he saw Chad look up to see him sitting the bleachers, watching him, making him look like a creep. The next thing he knew, Chad was tripping over some bar, and fall down. Why there was multiple of these bars all over the track was beyond him. Seeing Chad eat shit, Ryan ran down from the bleachers to help him up. "Damn Chad, are you okay?"

Chad groaned. He was in pain. "Yeah, I think I'm fi-" Before he could again tell the blond boy that he was fine, and have him agree, Chad stopped himself. "I'm okay."

"No you aren't, you're bleeding." Ryan said touching Chad's eyebrow trying to wipe away some of the blood from the deep cut.

Chad winced at the contract, and pulled away. "I'll survive."

"Man, you might need stitches. Let me take you to the nurse."

"I'm fine. Damn it, I mean... ugh." Chad grunted.

"You weren't even looking where you were running." Ryan pointed out.

"Yeah, I... umm... yeah."

"Why are you running by yourself? Doesn't your team usually workout together during free period?"

"Yeah, I don't know where they are actually. I just needed to clear my head."

"Did it work?"

"Not really." Even before you showed up, Chad wanted to say, but kept his mouth shut. He could now feel the blood dripping down the side of his face. He tried to use his shirt to help stop the bleeding, but it continued to rush down his face.

"You're really bleeding badly. Please go see the nurse, even if you won't let me take you there."

Chad ignored him, but walked towards the nurse anyway. He never really told Ryan that he couldn't go with him, so Ryan walked right next to him with the intention of doing so until Chad told him to get lost.

"What are you doing out here anyway?" Chad questioned.

"Watching you run."

Chad turned his head to find Ryan already looking at him. He was serious, this much Chad could tell. "Why?"

"Why not?" was all that Ryan answered. Chad wasn't sure how to respond to that, so he chose not to say anything. "Does that bother you?"

"What you watching me run?" Ryan nodded. "I don't know. It doesn't bother me as much as it freaks me out, I guess."

"Why does it freak you out?"

"Maybe because I have no idea why you were watching me run. You were just sitting in the bleachers staring at me, while I ran in circles. That's a little creepy."

Ryan just smiled at Chad, and said nothing more as they reached the nurses office.

Chad explained to the nurse what had happened, as she asked all of the routine questions, about feeling dizzy or light headed, making sure he didn't have a concussion. All the while, Ryan sat right there, never leaving Chad's side. Twenty minutes and four stitches later, the pair left the nurses office and headed towards their next class. A class which they just so happened to have together.

"Thanks for coming with me." Chad said shyly.

"Anytime." Ryan smiled. They entered the classroom, giving the teacher their late pass from the nurse and took their seats.

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"What the hell happened to your face?" Troy questioned while shooting hoops at basketball practice today.

"You don't want to know." Chad answered. "I've had a hell of a day, and I just want it to be over."

"Dude you have four stitches, and bruises all around your eyebrow. That looks like it hurts."

"Believe me when I tell you it does."

"What happened?" Troy asked again.

Chad sighed. He knew Troy wouldn't let it go until he told him. "I was running laps during free period today, and I ran into a hurdle. My face broke my fall." He decided to leave out the part of Ryan watching him.

Troy started laughing. "How does that happen? Did you not see the hurdle?"

"I guess not." Troy started laughing harder. "Dude, stop laughing, it freaking hurts. It's not funny."

"I'm sorry, but you've gotta admit, it's a little funny."

"I don't have to admit shit."

Troy again chuckled at his best friend. He threw an arm around his best friend's shoulders, "Come on, I'll take you home."

The two boys walked towards Troy's car until they heard a voice call out from behind them. "Troy! Chad!" Turning around they saw Ryan Evans running to catch up with them.

As Chad kept his mouth shut, Troy politely answered, "What's up Ryan?"

"Not much. Sharpay left me stranded, so I'm trying to decide what would be worse, taking the bus, or walking home."

"Don't be ridiculous, I'll take you home." At this Chad physically blanched, and stared wide-eyed at his best friend.

"Are you sure it won't be a problem?"

"Of course it's not a problem. Get in." Troy said as he mentioned toward the truck.

Ryan jumped in the back seat, but before Troy had a chance to climb in Chad grabbed his arm, "What the hell, Troy?"

"What?" Troy looked at him confused.

Chad just rolled his eyes and made his way around to the other side of the car and got in the front seat.

The car ride was filled with awkward conversation, mostly between Troy and Ryan. Chad never opened his mouth except when asked the occasional question. When they pulled up to his house, Ryan expressed his appreciation, and jumped out of the car.

As soon as the car door shut and Ryan was safely in his house, Chad turned to Troy. "What the fuck?"

Again, Troy looked at him confused. "Excuse me?"

"Why the hell did you offer to bring Ryan home?"

"Because he was going to walk home, I wouldn't make him do that."

"Of course you wouldn't."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"You always have to be the good guy don't you. Offering Ryan Evans a ride home, trying to do the right thing. God Troy, sometimes you can be so dense."

"Why are you getting so uptight about this?" Chad's answer was cut off by Troy's cell phone. "Hold that thought. Hello?"

The person on the other line answered, "Hey Troy, its Taylor."

"Sorry Taylor, I can't talk right now. Chad is yelling at me."

"Why is Chad yelling at you?"

"Something about being a good guy and doing the right thing."

"How is that grounds for yelling at you?"

Chad leaned over and grabbed the phone out of Troy's hand leaving Taylor's question unanswered. "Taylor. Guess what Troy did." He gave her no time to respond. "He offered Ryan a ride home. Some best friend he is." Taylor's response included nothing else but laughter. Chad ignored her. "I mean come on. He didn't even ask me. What the hell?" Chad was now yelling into the phone, he was beyond mad.

"Chad, you do know that Troy has no idea about your feelings for Ryan right?" Chad said nothing. "You probably sound insane right now, going on and on about how big of a deal it is that Troy offered Ryan a ride home."

"I hate you." Chad said as he hung up the phone on Taylor and handed the phone back to Troy.

"So, are you going to tell me why you're freaking out about this?" Troy's cell phone again cut Chad off. "Hello?"

"It's Taylor again. Apparently Chad hung up on me."

"Yeah I don't know what's wrong with him right now."

"He's going through some stuff, that's actually why I called you. I can't go into details, especially since he's sitting right next to you, but I think you should make the effort to talk to him. Really listen to what he has to say, because he needs his best friend right now."

"Will do Taylor, thanks."

"Anytime. See you tomorrow."

Troy ended the conversation, and turned back to his best friend. "So?"

"So, what?"

"Why are you acting so weird right now? I thought you and Ryan were friends, I didn't know that you'd have a problem with me offering him a ride home."

"It's not that, we are friends, it's just-" Chad trailed off unsure of what to say.

"It's just..." Troy tried to get him to continue, as they pulled up in front of Chad's house.

"Come inside. This could take awhile." Chad jumped out of the truck, and Troy followed the slightly insane boy into the house.