A/N: Bah, sorry, I'm so lazy! I'm sorry if anything in this chapter is inaccurate. If you catch something, please tell me so I can fix it for future readers. I tried to do some research first, but…

Thank you all so much for sticking through this with me, despite how long it takes me to update! School is evil... i'm sooo sorry, and thanks to everyone who pushed me to update! Hope you're not dissapointed.

+ Troy's POV +

It's been almost a week since Gabriella pulled me out of the lunchroom and I told someone for the first time about Ryan and me. Now I'm just sitting in drama, laughing at something Chad is saying even though I'm not really paying attention. I'm really just waiting for Ryan to get here. He said he's been feeling sick for a week now, but it doesn't really seem to be anything serious. It wasn't enough to keep him home yesterday. I just stare at the door out the corner of my eye, waiting for him to come in. But he doesn't. Neither does Sharpay. I'm tempted to call his cell the second the bell rings, but Mrs. Darbus, as usual, is looming over the classroom, and I know if I call him now I'll get my phone taken away, and I won't be able to call him later. I wait, staring at the door. I don't have to call him, though, because before class has ended, Sharpay bursts in the door, her face looking odd without the usual pound of make up. Instead, her eyes and face are red and she's still in her pajamas. Sharpay would never come to school in anything like that, and everyone notices. Darbus even stops talking for a second to stare.

"Troy, I need you, now," she sobs. This earns several laughs from my sick-minded friends, but my heart is close to exploding. I'm dizzy… I stand up slowly so I won't fall over. I follow her into the hallway, feeling like I'm floating. Millions of questions are flying through my head… and none of the answers can get there soon enough. I feel like I'm walking out into the hallway for the last time, like I just won't exist after this moment of ignorance. The door slams shut behind us, and Sharpay and I are left in silence, except for her sniffles. She turns away from me, and I can't help but think of all the times we made fun of her… Ice Queen, Snow Princess, mountain lion. Now as I stare at her quivering back, all I can see is a fallen Queen, broken and hopeless. I step towards her, shaking, and hug her tightly, holding on like she might float away if I let go. She turns around, throwing her arms around my neck and sobbing into my shirt. We both sink to the floor, weak.

"Troy, listen…"

"No wait, Sharpay… let me just pretend everything's okay for one more second… I close my eyes, breathing deeply. Sharpay waits, and then gently starts to speak again.

"Troy, you need to come over. It's Ryan." She pauses, pressing her lips into a thin line. "He's sick."

I never knew that two words could destroy your life. Just send it all down, and nothing you can do can save it. Even if I picked up all the pieces of what my life was 30 seconds ago and pieced them back together, it could never be the same.

As I walk into the house, following Sharpay closely, and I can tell something's awful here. Like nothing good had ever happened in this house. I know that's not true… Ryan and I have spent hours here, just breathing in each other's presence. Sharpay silently goes up the stairs, and I follow her to the door of Ryan's room, where she stops. Slowly, she turns and stares into my eyes.

"Look, Troy… don't say anything about how he looks, okay? He hasn't eaten in a while, and… well… just don't react, okay?" I nod, my heart caught in his throat. Sharpay steps aside, and I gently push on the door, afraid of what I might see.

Ryan's laying on the bed, his eyes closed and his breathing raspy. He has bruises all around his face, and his face is even thinner than normal. I feel tears sliding down my cheeks against my will. He coughs roughly, his hand flying to his mouth. As he stops, his labored breathing becomes even raspier, and with every breath I can feel my heart breaking. Slowly, his eyes open. I watch, frozen, a single tear slips out the corner of his eyes.

"Oh Troy… I didn't want you to see me like-," he cuts off abruptly, coughing wildly. I suddenly snap out of it, trying not to cry so Ryan doesn't get upset.

"Ry, don't talk, okay?" I gently kiss his head, holding his face in my hands. I can feel more tears running down my fingers. "It's gonna be okay, Ryan. I'm not gonna leave you." Ryan shakes his head.

"You can't stay, Troy," he rasps, and I almost break down in front of him. But I can't.

"Ryan, look… obviously you don't get what I've been telling you for the last two months. I love you. I don't know what I'd do without you. I know I can't help you by being here, but I don't want to leave you, do you hear me?" I kiss his hand, squeezing my eyes shut as my forehead rests on his warm skin. "I love you." Ryan nods, sniffing a little bit. I stand, shaky, and sit on the bed next to him. He just looks at me for a second, and in his eyes I see more pain than I've ever seen in one lifetime. I smile weakly, and finally, as he closes his eyes and turns his head, I let my tears glide down my cheeks, trying hard not to sob loudly. I lay on the bed next to him, cradling him in my arms as he falls asleep.

I don't know how many minutes have passed… they could be hours for all I know, maybe just seconds. But soon, Sharpay is knocking on the door. She walks in, stepping softly as she stared at Ryan with tears in her eyes.

"The doctor's downstairs, Troy," she whispers. Slowly, I get up, staring at Ryan the whole time to make sure I'm not waking him. Then I follow Sharpay out, shutting the door softly behind me.

"What's wrong with him, Shar? What's wrong with Ryan?" She shakes her head.

"The doctor says he probably knows. I sent over samples earlier this morning… and he says they have results. Oh God, Troy, I'm scared. What am I going to do if Ryan leaves? He's the only person who really gets me…" I can't answer; I feel exactly the same way.

The doctor is sitting at the table, rubbing his forehead. Sharpay and I clutch hands, squeezing tightly as we sit down. He looks up at us, sighing.

"You're both family?"

"Yes," Sharpay says, sucking in a small breath. The doctor sits forward in his chair, staring solemnly at both of them.

"I'm very sorry… but we believe that your brother has tuberculosis." Sharpay lets out a little shriek, and I hold her close to me, my heart beating loudly in my chest. That can't be right… this can't be happening to Ryan, not my Ryan…

"How could this happen?" I demand, trying to be strong.

"Ryan has AIDS, which weakened his system, allowing TB to take over his body." Sharpay starts weeping into my shoulder, her body shaking violently. I feel like doing the same, but I can't… I need to help Ryan any way I can.

"How long will it take to treat it?"

"It generally takes six to nine months. We'll put him on a few prescriptions, and check up on him every once in a while until he's cured."

"So he's going to be okay?" Sharpay whispers, sitting up. "He's not going to die?"

"It's highly unlikely. Very few people die from tuberculosis now that we have the proper medication. Stop by my office tomorrow, and I'll give you what your brother needs. For now, just keep him lying down. Don't let him get excited or talk too much." We both nod, and Sharpay gets up to show the doctor to the door.

I know what the doctor said. I sat there and heard it. But I don't believe him. Somehow… I just don't believe that Ryan will ever get better. I sneak silently back up to his room, staring at him as he sleeps. Ryan coughs softly, grimacing in pain. He turns over and coughs into the sheet, leaving a patch of blood. I clench my fingernails into my palm and collapse against the hallway wall, sobbing silently into my knees. Oh God, please… I can't lose Ryan… why would you do this to me? Sharpay is standing the stairway, and she sits down next to me. We just cry together, praying for Ryan with all our hearts.

ONE MONTH LATER

School isn't the same. That should be obvious. But I can't tell anyone why I sometimes have to run from class to take a phone call from Sharpay, who promised to update me on Ryan's condition every day during school. Or why I haven't laughed or smiled for a month. No one gets it… no one would if I told them. And Ryan hasn't gotten better. That's what makes my heart ache every second… the fact that Ryan is still stuck in that bed, suffering every minute. He deserves to be out here living life more than I do, and I'd give anything in the world to switch places with him. The bell rings, and like I do every day, I head over to Ryan's house.

Ryan seems to be getting skinner every day. When he stares at me, his eyes are yellow and unfocused. Sometimes it takes him a minute to recognize me, and it's hard to bear. Medicine just hasn't been helping. Ryan is only getting worse. I go to bed every night wondering if I just saw him for the last time and wake up every morning hoping it's not my last day to say goodbye. Sharpay is always telling me to have courage, be strong for Ryan… but I don't think he'll last much longer. He's gone somewhere else; a place where I can't hold him and tell him it's okay. It's all pain and suffering for Ryan… the most alive person I know trapped in a colorless, lifeless world. And if I could do anything, I'd reach out and take away that pain. But I can't. Ryan's parents don't even react much. Ryan once told me that his parents would have had Sharpay have all the glory of being the 'better twin' without actually having a twin if it was up to them. He was unwanted, unloved… even now, when Ryan's life is hanging by a thread, it's hard to tell if they care at all. They just sit there, staring into space, filling the house with smoke as they let untouched cigars dangle from their fingertips. Then they'll leave the house, staring straight ahead, and carry on with life, always coming back to just sit.

I get there after school, and that's how I find them both, as always. I slip quietly by and creep up the stairs. Sharpay nearly collides with me, shrugging on her jacket.

"Where are you going?"

"Doctor's office. They said they had news about Ryan, and I need to get refills for his prescriptions." She swallows. "Please come, Troy. I don't want to be alone." I glance up at Ryan's door, which is shut. Then I turn around and Sharpay and I leave together, taking on the same zombie like state her parents have.

The drive to the hospital is in total silence. When we arrive, we both step out of the car and find the waiting room, clenching our hands together tightly. It feels like death everywhere. I shiver, trying to block it out. Soon, the nurse comes out and allows us into the back room. We just wait in that cold, white, sterile room with our hearts in our throats. Too soon, the doctor comes in. He takes of his glasses and looks at us sadly.

It's not good news. It's like I thought all along.

He speaks in a soft tone, as if he's trying not to frighten us.

"I'm sorry to inform you of this… but Ryan has drug-resistant tuberculosis. The medication normally would have helped ease his symptoms by now… but from the latest samples… I'm sorry. We just didn't catch it in time. Shall I leave you two alone for a moment?"

I can't breathe. My vision is cloudy, and I turn to look at Sharpay. She has both hands pressed hard over her mouth, her eyes wide as tears stream out of them. I feel tears start to trail down my own cheeks, and I just can't take it. She falls into my chest, sobbing loudly, balling my shirt up in her shaking fist.

"How long?" I manage, my own voice sounding foreign to me.

"About a month."

Sharpay wails again into me, and I just stare into space, tears welling and falling quickly. Every part of my body seems to in agony... I've never felt this before... I feel like throwing myself to the ground and giving up... I can't breathe...

Ryan isn't going to make it. My Ryan… my angel, my reason for living… will be gone in a month.