8.9.07

Setting: Night after Baseball Game, Chapter 7 of The Board of Secrets, Chapter 24 of Middle School Musical

"So, me and Gabi are done for good," Troy said to his best friend.

"That's excellent," Chuckie replied.

"Gonna ask out Ryan on Saturday night."

"Even more excellent."

"I'm worried though."

"Why?" Chuckie asked, surprised.

"It's been so long…and I don't want to treat him like a girl. Cuz it's different, you know."

"That's what I'm told." Troy parked his truck in his driveway, but neither boy moved. "Err…you can come over if you want to…and I'll remind you…" Chuckie grinned. Troy stared at him.

"What about Justin?" Troy asked.

"He's not my boyfriend."

"I really shouldn't," Troy said.

"My parents are out. Sarah doesn't give a shit."

"I really shouldn't," Troy repeated.

"Well, if you're sure…"

"I'm not." The two boys sat in the truck. Troy looked at Chuckie. Chuckie, sensing this, looked at Troy. "Well, I guess we both know this is gonna happen…"

"Yeah…"

"Just for tonight. And maybe tomorrow night too."

"Of course," Chuckie said.

"Why are we still sitting here?"

"No idea."

"I really shouldn't."

"I really shouldn't either," Chuckie said, sighing.

"But we're going to anyway."

"Hell yea."

"…" Troy leaned over the center of the car to kiss Chuckie, who pressed his lips against Troy's cautiously. Then, something happened that had never happened before, and would never happen again. Chuckie pulled away, slowly, carefully, but surely. "What?" Troy asked.

"I can't," Chuckie said, softly.

"Not even just for tonight?"

"I really shouldn't. It's just proving his point, I guess."

"Whose point?"

"This guy I know."

"Your boyfriend?" Troy asked.

"Not really," Chuckie replied.

"Justin?"

"Not Justin."

"What point?"

"He thinks I can't stay committed…" Troy frowned and opened his mouth to protest. "To anyone but you."

"Oh," Troy said, shutting his mouth. "Have you ever tried?"

"Not that hard. I could do it if I wanted to."

"But you don't want to?"

"No, I do," Chuckie said.

"This guy you know. You like him?"

"I don't know."

"Is he into you?"

"Kinda."

"This is the same guy as before basketball camp?"

"Yeah," Chuckie said.

"Dayum, dude. Ask the man out already."

"Let's not say I haven't tried. He wants me to prove commitment. And I can't."

"You're not trying hard enough."

"Yeah, I know. Cuz as much as I like him, I still think I'm probably going home with you tonight."

"No, Chucks," Troy said. "Go home, you can do it. I believe in you."

"I don't even know if I want to, when I'm with you." Troy blinked, and looked away. "Sorry. Habit."

"I don't think it is habit. You honestly don't know if you want me or him."

"Him," Chuckie said, instantly.

"I'm not out of reach for you, Chucks," Troy said, inching closer. "If you want to keep me, all you have to do is say so."

"I wouldn't do that to you," Chuckie said, holding up a hand to keep Troy from coming closer.

"Well, then. I think you can do it. Screw him if he says otherwise."

"Trust me, I'm trying to," Chuckie grumbled.

"Go home, Chucks."

"You coming?" Troy shook his head. "Aww."

"You deserve better than a one night stand."

"Having you for one night is better than having a lifelong relationship with someone else," Chuckie said.

"That's not habit talking."

"And so?"

"So I shouldn't come home with you tonight." There was silence. "To tell the truth, I'm scared to death of habit kicking in. What if, someday, next month, next year when Ryan and I are going out… All I'd have to do is forget his name just once, and it'd be over. Even if I was sleeping and it was a mumble. He's not going to stand for that crap."

"He's not like his sister," Chuckie said. "He'd give you a chance. And if not, I can kick his ass for you."

"I believe that."

"Come home with me."

"Yeah, I think I will."

"Figured," Chuckie smirked. Troy pulled his keys from the ignition and the light in the truck came on. Both boys exited the truck at the same time, threw their stuff at Troy's side porch, and walked across the street.

"Long time, no see," Sarah said, as Troy and Chuckie walked into the living room. "At least around here at this time of night."

"Hey Sarah. How's life?" Troy asked.

"It's not that bad," Sarah said. "You back with my brother?"

"It's a thing…"

"Night Sar," Chuckie said, pulling Troy towards the stairs.

"Night boys," Sarah called, returning to her television program.

"She does pose an interesting question," Troy said as they got upstairs. "What does one night mean for us? What will this do to our friendship? What are the sociological implications of the consequences of our actions?"

"Nothing. As far as I can see," Chuckie said. "You're going after Ryan day after tomorrow, so there won't be any backlash."

"I'm more worried about you. You got pretty bad in December."

"I'm fine," Chuckie said, obstinately, removing his sweatshirt and double layer top in one motion. Troy involuntarily moaned at the sight. It had been so long since he had been allowed to enjoy the male form in all its glory. "Wow, it's not like you've never seen me shirtless before…"

"It's been so long," Troy said, suddenly aware that his jeans felt a lot tighter than they should have been. He quickly stripped off his shirt too, throwing it at a heap of his clothes that had been piling there since 1997.

"You do know what showers are for, don't you? Please tell me you've been making yourself happy." Troy looked at him with his classic 'I'm Troy Bolton' look and Chuckie's lips dove to attack every inch of Troy's neck and shoulders, occasionally catching his lips. Troy just enjoyed. "How many times are you up for?" Chuckie asked, having detached himself from Troy after throwing him into the bed, trying to discern how many condoms they might need.

"A lot," Troy said. He already felt like he was about to blow and Chuckie hadn't even touched him yet. Chuckie threw and entire box at Troy, who caught it before kicking his pants off. Chuckie almost tripped over his in his haste. It was one of those rare occurrences when he was actually wearing underpants. Troy smiled at the memory, which brought him to his senses. "Chuckie…" Troy said, seriously.

"Yeah. I really shouldn't either," Chuckie said, sitting calmly on the bed next to Troy. "And not just cuz of J- That guy I kinda like. I'm still not sure if I'm healed from when Justin and I… well, yeah." He sort of squirmed uncomfortably.

"Yeah. And it's not just that. This will impact our friendship, whether we think it will or not. We'd wake up in the morning, happy, content, not sure of anything."

"One blowjob," Chuckie said, warily eyeing Troy's boxers. "Each."

"Okay," Troy said.

"Goddd, I missed you," Chuckie whined when he had finished. "I am so sick of amateurs."

"I try," Troy said, content. He loved giving head more than he liked getting. Troy brought his body up so it was even with Chuckie's on the bed. Chuckie gave him a soft, slow kiss.

"Welcome back to homosexuality," Chuckie mumbled softly.

"Thanks," Troy replied. Their kisses continued soft and slow.

"Troy," Chuckie said anxiously, pulling off. Troy stared at him. "Would you – would you fuck me, soft and slow?"

"Um, why?"

"Starting next week, we're both in new relationships. I know for a fact I'll be the top in mine, and Ryan probably won't let you do him at all, so, please, for one night, soft and slow, remind us of the normalcy we once knew." Troy thought about this.

"How is soft and slow a return to normalcy? We've never done anything but hard and fast, quick and dirty."

"I just think that it's something we should do, now we've matured."

"You realize you're basically asking me to make love to you."

"I'm not a girl." Troy gave him a look. "Make loooove to me Troy," Chuckie mocked, batting his eyelashes.

"No," Troy said, obstinately, even though he wanted it too. One night, just sex, no strings attached. But there were strings attached to this night. Even if neither wanted to admit it. Troy continued their kisses at the soft, slow pace Chuckie preferred, thinking about how their first kiss had been spent, almost 5 years ago exactly , right on that same bed. Chuckie reached for the controls to his stereo system and 'Crazy for You' by Madonna came on his surround sound. "You knew I was coming home with you tonight when you left for work this morning, didn't you?" Troy asked.

"Pretty much," Chuckie replied. Troy rolled his eyes. Their lips locked together and he pulled Chuckie on top of him, silently hating himself for what he was about to do.

8.10.07

Setting: The Next Morning, a Friday

In the morning, Chuckie's alarm clock went off telling them both it was time to start getting ready for work. Chuckie rolled over to punch it off, and found that not only was Troy's spot on the bed empty, but it was cold, as though he hadn't been there for hours. Chuckie got up, confused, and stumbled his way to the bathroom to take a shower. With the water as hot as it would go, it was easy to tell the tears on his face from the water streaming out of the showerhead. He wept for the loss of JJ, who would never trust him again after the night before. He wept for Troy, the love he knew he still had for him, and his inability to feel it anymore. Most of all, he wept for Justin, who had just been trying to do the right thing, and ended up making the ultimate mistake. The hot water ran cold and he turned it off. Shivering, he pulled a towel around himself and went back to his room to get ready for the day before thanking his lucky stars he had the day off. He pulled on clean boxers and a pair of old flannel pajama pants to make himself feel better, along with an old vintage tee three sizes too big that had been his father's in the 70s, and crawled into bed. His phone buzzed – a text. "Its ur day off wanna chill 2day? Txt me when you wake up. –J". It was Justin, of course. The text gave him a choice. He could text Justin back now, or go back to sleep. His brain made the choice for him, and he was soon asleep again. Out of the shower, it was impossible to tell what was water and what was tears. It was 9:30 by the time he woke up again. He texted Justin the answer he'd been thinking about for 4 hours. "Hey Jus. Sure lets chill. Sarah took the car so im stuck here. xx" Justin texted back 20 seconds later "kbrt –J". Chuckie took the time to drag himself out of bed and trade his pajamas for one of his 14 pairs of baggy jeans and a double layer tee.

"Don't you own anything short-sleeved? It's like 100 degrees out there," Justin said, entering the house.

"Nice greeting," Chuckie said.

"Sorry. Hi," Justin corrected.

"Hi," Chuckie replied.

"What's up?"

"Uhm…" Chuckie contemplated. "Troy spent the night last night." Justin laughed.

"How did you get him to do that?"

"I have powers." Chuckie shrugged. "He ran before this morning though."

"Aww."

"He's never run on me before. Not in 5 years."

"Maybe he was scared."

"Of what?" Chuckie asked.

"Of what waking up with you might mean. Especially with him going after Ryan tomorrow."

"But it doesn't mean anything! It was our last night of freedom, so we decided to spend it together."

"Maybe he was afraid it would mean something to you."

"Why should that bother him? Not once in 5 years did I roll over in the morning and say 'I love you' even though I wanted to. Why should I start now?"

"Did he say anything out of place?" Chuckie thought about it.

"A lot of stuff. But so did I."

"Like what?" Justin asked.

"He practically begged me to ask him to stay with me. He said I wasn't out of his reach, that I could keep him if I wanted to. And he kept going on about what this would do to me, like I was gonna go emo again. But… I have JJ."

"You and JJ are gonna be okay, even after last night?"

"Uhm…yeah that occurred to me," Chuckie said, "but we'll be okay."

"You really can't commit, can you?" Justin asked.

"I can so!" Chuckie protested loudly. "I just don't want to. I'm young, reaching the height of my sexual prime!" Justin laughed. "I'm serious."

"I know, I know. Go on."

"You don't think I can do it, do you?"

"No, I believe in you."

"You better believe in me."

"I do, I do!" Justin said.

"Still got that boyfriend?" Chuckie shot at Justin, scathingly.

"Now, hold on. Lemme explain something about that boyfriend. We had pretty much already broken up, just not officially until after that first night you and I… err…"

"Tried," Chuckie supplied.

"Tried," Justin finished lamely.

"And even that didn't mean much in the morning," Chuckie said, waving his hand to dismiss it.

"Yeah," Justin lied. "Nothing special. I do stuff like that all the time."

"Exactly!" Chuckie said. "I don't see what Troy's problem is."

"I don't know."

"Wanna go to a party tomorrow night?" Chuckie asked, changing the subject.

"Sure," Justin agreed.

"At the Evans' Mansion."

"Of course."

"Whaddya wanna do today?"

"I dunno. Let's get out of here. Go somewhere. Have some fun."

"I have to work tomorrow."

"I'll have you back before morning," Justin said, grinning. Chuckie smiled.

"Nowhere lame, and remember, I'm 16," he said.

"Not anymore, you're not," Justin said, handing a piece of plastic to his friend. Chuckie's face lit up.

"Where have you been all my life?" he asked, incredulously.

"Just a few streets down," Justin said, innocently. "I honestly can't believe we never met before…"

"It's ten o'clock in the morning."

"Yeah, but happy hour is from 4 to 6."

"And what are we going to do until then?"

"Get there," Justin said, grinning. Chuckie followed Justin out the door and into Justin's Honda Civic.

"So, why do you wanna get out of here?" Chuckie asked Justin as they drove.

"My roommates are being obnoxious on purpose to try to bother me."

"Josh and Emily?"

"Yeah."

"How would they bother you?"

"Oh, they're just sick of living with my mopey self. They want me to get out and see the three dimensional people, you know. Guess they got their wish. But I'm happy to take you out any time."

"Oh."

"So, why d'you wanna go out with JJ anyway? He's kind of a dick."

"Not to me," Chuckie said. "It's like we've fallen into this trap where everything is so familiar, like it was with Troy, only better, ykno?"

"Sure, as long as he's good to you. I know his brother and wow."

"Yeah, I know, right?"

It was much passed midnight when Chuckie finally got tired of dancing and collapsed into Justin's arms.

"Ready to go home?" Justin asked him.

"Yes, please," Chuckie slurred, trying to walk in the direction that Justin was pointing him. The moment they were outside, Chuckie's intestines revolted and he threw up all over the sidewalk. "Don't let me drink that much ever again." They got into the car and Justin began driving home. Chuckie eventually fell asleep, comforted by the soft oldies music coming from the stereo.

"Chucks," Justin said, softly.

"Huh?" Chuckie asked, waking up suddenly.

"We're home. Can you walk or you want me to carry you?"

"I can walk," Chuckie mumbled. He got out of the car, took two steps and Justin caught him. "Or not." Justin carried him into the house and up to his bed. Then he went to leave. "Hey. Take a load off. Plant one. Stay a while." Chuckie patted the bed next to him. Justin took off his shoes and jacket and hopped onto the bed. "Thanks for tonight and today. I had the best time."

"Any time," Justin replied.

"And just between us…" Chuckie took a quick look around for eavesdroppers. "That first time with you wasn't nothing to me. And I know it meant something to you too." Then he was asleep again. Justin got off the bed, picked up his shoes and jacket and headed downstairs.

"It is 4am," came a stern voice from who knows where.

"And so?" Justin asked.

"Where did you take him all night" Sarah asked.

"Clubbing. Harmless fun," Justin said. Sarah sighed.

"I miss clubbing. And I know Chuckie does too. He needs a nice guy like you around."

"Thanks, but I'm not his boyfriend."

"I know you're not. I'm just wondering why."

"I ask myself the same question."

"Nice meeting you, Justin."

"Pleasure's all mine, but I better be getting home. My roommates will be worried."

"Night."

"Night Sarah." Justin walked out of the house, then turned around and came back in. "Who's the father?"

"It's Chad," Sarah said quietly.

"Does he know?" Sarah sent him a look like 'what do you think?'. "That's a no." There was a pause. "When are you due?"

"About six weeks."

"Nice. Good luck." Then he left for his Civic and his apartment. He's been up for 25 hours straight and he needed his sleep before the party that night.

8.11.07

Setting: The Evans Mansion, Troy and Ryan's getting together party, Chapter 9 of The Board of Secrets, Chapter 24 of Middle School Musical

Troy left the room, followed quickly by Sapphire, leaving Chuckie, Sarah, and Justin alone around a ping pong table covered in beer and red solo cups.

"Well, I'ma leave before this gets graphic," Sarah said. "Night kids."

"Night Sar. Careful driving home," Chuckie said. Sarah left.

"Is this going to get graphic?" Justin asked, interested.

"I dunno. JJ's not here, so I guess it could."

"Lemme get into you brain for a second. How do you justify having so many different guys in such quick succession?"

"I'm not in a relationship with any of them."

"I see. That makes sense," Justin said.

"Well, that's how I justify it. I do feel guilty sometimes."

"About this?"

"No. That you aren't in on it," Chuckie said, cracking a grin.

"That's okay. I don't mind."

"I had fun last night."

"Yeah, so did I," Justin said.

"I didn't throw up on you, did I?"

"Nope."

"Good." Chuckie took the pause to slip out of the room and walk down the hall. Justin walked after him.

"I feel guilty too," Justin said.

"Why?" Chuckie asked, confused.

"Cuz I don't tell the whole truth all the time."

"Such as when?"

"It did mean something to me."

"What did?" Chuckie asked.

"May."

"It did?"

"Yeah, it did. The first time, the second time, the third time, camp, after camp…"

"It meant something to me too." Chuckie ducked into a room and Justin followed. "It meant a lot." Justin was quiet. "You're a great guy, Jus. But right now… we're not right for each other yet."

"We weren't right for each other yet two years ago. When will we be right?"

"I dunno if we ever will be. But I hope we will."

"So do I," Justin said.

"It will. It-It-It… we will," Chuckie said. "When it reaches that space when we're right on the line between being too far in the friend zone and starting to fall apart. I've seen us in the future, remember?"

"If you see us in the future, why go out with JJ at all?"

"Cuz it's too early, and I really do like him."

"How much?"

"I can't say. It's in poor taste to say with you here."

"Do it anyway," Justin said.

"It's complicated. Cuz I like you too."

"You do?"

"How could I not?" Chuckie asked. Justin had no reply. "I know it's not cool to keep you hanging around like this. But if I didn't honestly believe it was too early, I'd've jumped you by now." Justin laughed. "It's becoming harder to control myself as the alcohol hits me, lowering my inhibitions."

"How high were your inhibitions in the first place?"

"Uh…good question. Ask me in the morning." He kicked off his shoes and dove headfirst onto the king-size.

"Night Chuckie," Justin said, turning to leave.

"Aww, stay awhile." Justin kicked off his own shoes and sat on the bed next to Chuckie. "Nothing's going to happen, you wimp. I told you I can be committed."

"I always knew you could. I've seen you with that look on your face. You do love him."

"I do?" Chuckie said, unsure. "I dunno if I would go that far…"

"Where is he tonight?"

"JJ's at home. He didn't have fun last week. He kinda accidentally came out to about 2 dozen people without meaning to."

"Oh," Justin said.

"I like you. I mean I really like you."

"I know you do. I really like you too. It's a major bummer it's not time yet."

"Yeah, it's not. Course, that's never stopped us before."

"No, it really hasn't." Chuckie looked into Justin's bright blue eyes, and Justin looked into Chuckie's chocolaty brown ones. "Chuckie…"

"Can't help it. We're meant to be, you know that, you and me."

"Yeah, I know," Justin said.

"As long as that's clear," Chuckie said, slowly moving in to press their lips together. Soft and slow, long and loving, they kissed again and again. In the morning when the pair woke, they eyed each other, silently agreeing on their story: it hadn't happened. Justin left soon after, and Chuckie wandered into the dining room.

8.13.07

Setting: The following Monday evening, Chapter 13 of The Board of Secrets, Chapter 24 of Middle School Musical

"Jayze, will you just listen to me?"

"Did you sleep with him? Yes or no? It's a simple question."

"No! Not since May! I promise."

"You would have if it worked."

"I wouldn't have! Why are we even having this argument? You don't care."

"You're right. I don't."

"But I do. You don't want to hear this, but…every single time I see you and Tia, I hate it. I–"

"You brought this on yourself. This is entirely–"

"I didn't expect it to come on so fast and so strong. You know that."

"I just can't believe you didn't see it coming at all. I saw it from the first day."

"Gee, thanks for the heads up."

"I bet you can't even say it."

"I can. I choose not to."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to. I've never – I don't – shut up. I can say it. You don't want to hear it anyway, so what's the point?"

"What about Troy?" Chuckie slammed his fist into his desk and turned around to collapse into his bed.

"This isn't about Troy. This is about us."

"There is no 'us', Chuck. You made that perfectly clear. There is you, there is me, and there is Troy. And–"

"It's not Troy! God! It never was. Can't you see that?"

"No, I can't. He's the only thing you ever talk about."

"This isn't the kind of thing to be discussed over the phone. I'll see you at work tomorrow."

"LOL, we're such adults. With jobs."

"Uh-huh, sure. Bye, J." Chuckie hung up his phone. It rang again 30 seconds later. "Jesus Christ, what?"

"Do you always answer your phone that way?"

"What do you want, Troy?"

"Just wanted to check on you. You look upset." Chuckie sighed, reached out with his left arm, and pulled his blinds.

"Quit stalking me. My life is no longer your business. Okay?"

"Yeah, but…you're still my best friend, right?"

"Obviously."

"So I was just checking on you."

"I'm fine, Troy. It's nothing you need to concern yourself with. Where were you tonight?"

"Uh, I had a hot date."

"Oh?"

"Mhm. On a golf course. With a certain blond-haired, blue-eyed Evans twin. If you know what I mean. Who is a damn fine kisser, if I do say so myself. Kelsi's a lucky girl." Chuckie laughed in spite of himself.

"That good, huh?"

"Oh, absolutely." There was a pause. "Nothing compared to you, of course."

"Oh?"

"Course you used to be no good either."

"I'm sure. Yeah, that's how it went. You sure it wasn't me teaching you?"

"Might be. See, I can't remember now."

"You're such a bad liar."

"I know."

"So when's your next hot date?"

"Tomorrow morning. It's my day off, so we're gonna hang out all day."

"Ew. Just don't get into trouble."

"I'll try. What about you? Got a hot date anytime in the near future?"

"Maybe."

"No offense, I don't think Justin's that hot."

"I'm not dating Justin."

"Oh?"

"Mhm."

"Last I heard you were…doing stuff with him."

"Troy, we haven't done that since May."

"That's…sad?"

"Yeah, it is. Okay?"

"Okay. I'm…sorry, I guess. I haven't–"

"Last Thursday? Yeah, I know. I was there."

"I meant before that."

"December 15, 2006? I was there, then, too."

"You remember the date?"

"I plan on celebrating it extremely thoroughly this year. And if you haven't come out by then, consider yourself seriously outed."

"Um…okay?"

"I mean it."

"Okay. I'll…talk to Ryan about it sometime."

"Good." There was a pause. Chuckie reached out to the left again and put his blinds back up.

"What did you do that for?"

"Why are you staring at my window?"

"Touché."

"I figure I don't have to worry about you staring anymore, since the whole new boyfriend, love of your life thing went over. I'll keep my curtains open." He donned an Emmett voice. "Don't watch me change." Troy laughed.

"Sounds plannish. Ryan makes Legally Blonde jokes all the time, I swear just to see if I get them. And I don't think he thinks I do."

"That's unfortunate."

"Mm. It's so annoying."

"Just get him drunk. That's what I'd do."

"You just like him when he's drunk. I like him when he's sober."

"What can I say? Ryan parties hard."

"So do you. You and Justin looked pretty tight Saturday Night."

"Rumor."

"It's a rumor you're having sex. What isn't a rumor? What else are you doing together?"

"You sound jealous."

"I'm not. Just curious."

"I bet. Hack your way into some porn."

"Easily. But I don't need it."

"Right. That's not something I needed to know."

"Yeah, you don't either."

"Says who?"

"I saw you in your room last night."

"Congratulations? Or more appropriately, can't I get some privacy around here?"

"What's up with your sister? A whole bunch of people are saying she quit her job."

"She did."

"Why?"

"She doesn't want it anymore. What's it to you?"

"It's not. She's never around anymore."

"She…I don't know. Going through a phase."

"Like PMS?"

"Like, I don't understand women, okay? Why would I?"

"I don't know. All the girls say they want a gay best friend."

"Yeah, you run that one by Sharpay."

"I will. Don't worry."

"When?"

"I'm telling her tomorrow."

"If you're still alive tomorrow night, you wanna play some ball or something?"

"Yeah, sure. As friends."

"Is it possible to play ball as not friends?"

"You know what I mean."

"Troy, I told you before. I'm not after you any more. I…am completely over you. I swear."

"I know. I know. I just…don't believe you. I mean, how do you do that? So suddenly?"

"First of all, we've been broken up for eight months, Thursday night notwithstanding. It's not exactly sudden. And secondly, I might have a new boyfriend that I can't tell you about."

"Chucks, you tell me everything."

"I do not."

"You do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too infinity. Tell me."

"No. I promised. It's a secret."

"Until when?"

"Forever."

"Chuckie."

"I'm serious."

"And I know you. You always make conditions on how long things can stay secrets. What are you up to?"

"Not having sex, if that's what you're thinking."

"Whenever I see you, it's like you're…distracted. Like you're…me… Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?"

"Troy, I'm not different."

"Yes, you are. There's a side of you I've never seen before. What's up?"

"Nothing! I swear."

"Chuckie, I'm going to ask you this one time, and I expect the truth. Are you in love with me?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Which is it, yes or no?"

"I'm not in love with you, I swear to all the Gods."

"Okay. Sorry I had to go to such drastic measures. You still seem different, although I can't quite seem to put my finger on it…"

"Stop worrying about me. I'm fine. You should worry about you. Figure out how you're going to deal with party boy. With the way he drinks, I wouldn't be surprised if he's in AA by the time we're twenty."

"Don't say that."

"I'm just saying. He has a problem. He could really use someone like you around."

"You've been watching too many chick flicks. Where's the real you? Hidden underneath all the layers of outward scorn and inward…I don't even know what?"

"You lost me."

"You've changed. It's been a while in the making, but you've definitely changed."

"How so?"

"You're more protective of your sister."

"She's going through a tough time. She and Jared might be on the outs again."

"You've been spending more time than I even thought possible in a place only described as 'out'."

"I've been out. Busy. I have friends outside the six of us."

"You haven't flirted with me in weeks."

"Do you miss it? I could start again for old time's sake."

"No, it's just got me worried."

"I told you, I'm over you. Flirting just makes it harder to let go."

"If you say so."

"It does. What about Gabriella? Would you ever flirt with her?"

"That's different. If I flirted with her, she might take it the wrong way and decide to have sex with my boyfriend."

"Ah. And you're saying you're the type that wouldn't have sex with your boyfriend."

"Yes. I mean…what?"

"You're funny. But it's late, and some of us have to work tomorrow."

"I miss you too, you know."

"Hey, ball tomorrow night, and guys' night on Wednesday. Kay?"

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yup. Bye Troy." Chuckie hung up his phone and sighed. "I am in serious need of some new music."

"Not going emo on me, are ya Chuck?" Sarah asked from the doorway.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"A while. Are Jared and I really on the outs again? I can never stay on top of the latest rumors."

"That's what I heard. It was all over the kitchen this morning. They think maybe that's why you quit your job. After everything your rep has been through, I cannot believe that no one thinks you're pregnant."

"Honestly. I'm sixteen, and I'm eight months pregnant. I have got to be out of my mind."

"Yeah, out of your mind in looooooove."

"Hey, don't say shit like that. I am completely over Chad."

"Uh, pardon my saying so, but bullshit."

"Oh, like you're really over Troy?"

"You don't know half of what goes on in my life."

"I'd like to think I know you a little more than everyone else at school. I do live here, and I was here on Thursday. And Friday. What's up?"

"I thought you knew everything."

"Don't play with me, Chuck. Why are you lying to Troy?"

"I'm not. I'm completely over him. I swear to God."

"Yeah, like I'm gonna believe that. When was the last time you actually–"

"Sarah, what I do is none of your business. I've been telling off everyone who's called you a slut your entire life, and this is the payment I get? Fuck that, I'm done, get out of my room."

"Chuck, it's not like that."

"Then what is it like?"

"I know…what you've been up to."

"With Justin?" Sarah looked at the ground. "Not just with Justin?"

"I found out about you and JJ."

"Oh, God."

"Don't worry, I won't say a word, I just…I'm sorry, I guess."

"I don't need apologies from you. I don't want them, and I don't need them."

"I know."

"Thanks, then."

"You're welcome."

"He's still in love with you, in case you were wondering. Do you ever think about dating him?"

"JJ? He's my best friend. That's practically like incest. And I don't date gay guys."

"Then, I can swear to you that I have it on good authority, he's not."

"What? But I thought–"

"Yeah, that didn't work out the way I planned. I made him a little deal. Similar to the one I made with Jared. I just…feel awful all the time, especially when he's not around, and even more when he is."

"That's love, darling."

"I know. And…ugh, how do you deal with the butterflies?"

"I don't know. Thinking of someone really, really ugly naked will usually do the trick."

"Isn't that how you cure–"

"Don't even ask me that question. It's the same general situation. Well, if you don't mind, my baby is hungry, and I have to pee."

"Hey, wait, didja get a hold of the Danforths today?"

"Yeah. They said they'd be delighted."

"Good. They deserve a child. They're good people."

"I know. That's why I chose them. Night Chuckie."

"Night Sarah."

8.14.07

Setting: The next morning, Chapter 14 of The Board of Secrets, Chapter 24 of Middle School Musical

"Okay, what is so important we couldn't discuss it over the phone?"

"Like you don't know."

"I was up all night preparing for this. And I am still not ready. I swear I almost called in sick today. I know what you want to say. I know you've been prepping all summer. Please–"

"Jayze."

"–don't tell me." There was a silence. "I can give it to you – or rather, let you give it to me – but it won't be the same."

"For you, maybe."

"No, really. I looked at some stuff and that's what they say."

"I really don't think so. I–" Chuckie was cut off by JJ's lips. Chuckie absolutely melted. Into a puddle on the floor of the room. So melted that he almost forgot to kiss back. He'd never had the firework effect when he kissed. That was because he'd never kissed someone he loved more than anything. This time, there were so many fireworks, they might have blown up the whole club. JJ finally pulled off, but Chuckie kept his arms around his neck. "J…"

"I was not expecting that."

"You felt it too?" JJ didn't say anything. "You did. J, I–"

"Don't. Even. Think. About it."

"Too late. I love you, John James Black."

"You thought it." He took a deep breath. "I love you too, but, I just–"

"No, you can. Look, Troy and Ryan are out today."

"And?"

"I happen to have the key to Ryan's suite."

"You're diabolical."

"And proud of it babe. C'mon." He took JJ's hand and pulled him into the hall. Then he paused. "Are you sure?"

"Don't make me change my mind." Chuckie grinned and they scampered up to Ryan's suite, which was thankfully empty. "Ryan will be pissed if he finds out."

"He won't. I'm stealthy. And clean. And gentle. And who cares if he's pissed? You just have to be quiet, or else we'll have to answer to Sharpay."

"That's worse. I don't know if I'm quiet or not."

"Are you still a–"

"You know the answer to the question, why do you even bother asking?"

"Aw, that's so cute, Jayze."

"No, it's not. It's embarrassing. I'm the last person on the face of the earth to do it."

"Troy's little brother, I'm sure, still is."

"He's twelve."

"He's fourteen."

"Same difference."

"Look, if you're still not–"

"What did I say to you?"

"Um…Dylan's twelve?"

"I felt guilty having sex with someone I didn't love. But I love you. So it's okay."

"Oh. That makes sense, actually."

"I know. Kiss me."

"With pleasure." Chuckie kissed JJ with astounding accuracy and pleasure, same as the first time they'd been together all those months ago back in Chuckie's own bedroom. It was different then. This was now, and this was leading down 'that road'. They didn't have to hurry, Ryan wouldn't be back in his suite until after Troy left, and that wasn't for hours. If they didn't show up for work, who cared? They never did anything anyway. They were on the clock. Fulton fire them? Really? Troy would probably have Fulton wrapped around his own finger in a day or two. "I just have one last thing to say."

"And that is?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

As we all know, not all love lasts forever. But this one could. It would have. But it was a little more complicated than they'd thought. After their very interesting time with doing the deed, (okay, having sex), as was customary, they stared at the ceiling and made small talk.

"That. Was. Amazing."

"Sex is amazing. We know."

"No, sex is good. Sex is great, even. Sex with you…wow."

"Um…thank you?"

"No, thank you." There was silence for a time. "Oh! Shit, fuck, and et ceteras."

"I think you're supposed to say that during sex, not after."

"I just cheated on my girlfriend."

"You're still dating Tia?"

"Uh…yeah."

"That does call for swearing. What'cha gonna do about it?"

"I don't know."

"You could tell her, if you wanted."

"And have her tell Sarah? No. No way."

"Sarah knows."

"You told Sarah?"

"No. She just knows. Which means she heard it from someone, or she saw us."

"Well that's annoying."

"I think she heard from Tia."

"How did Tia find out?"

"You tell me."

"Did I tell her? I don't think so."

"Dude, what about Saturday night?"

"Dude, nothing happened Saturday night."

"Weekend before last." JJ's eyes got wide.

"Um…"

"JJ…"

"I love you."

"That doesn't make it better."

"Okay, so I let it slip to Tia, and she told Sarah. Wonderful."

"I'm sorry. I don't think it'll spread any further. Do you still love Sarah?"

"Yes."

"Then how…"

"You're still in love with Troy, aren't you?"

"No."

"Don't lie to me. I know this. He's the love of your life, and Sarah's mine. There are other, temporary loves that can take the place, make you feel whole again. You read Twilight."

"Uh…what does that have to do with it?"

"Bella…never mind."

"Okay, then. You're crazy."

"And so are you."

"Yeah. Crazy in love with you." JJ smiled.

"I'm sure. Isn't it time we actually showed up for work?"

"I suppose. Or we could do this again. We do have to catch you up."

"Yeah, right."

"Oh, and if it helps, you're not the only seventeen-year-old around the joint that's still a virgin."

"I'm not?"

"You…didn't know Jared was still…"

"He is? But what about…whatever that chick's name was that he was dating?"

"Rumor. And Sharpay still is. And…Ryan was until a week ago. Don't worry. You're not late. The rest of us were just early."

"Okay. Thanks." JJ kissed Chuckie on the cheek. "Love you."

"Love you too."

"You know, we really can't nap here. We don't own this room."

"Sure, sure."

"No, really. We'll get in trouble."

"Fine, fine, I'm getting up." Both boys got out of bed. Chuckie yawned.

"I wouldn't have taken you for a sleeper."

"Troy was. And…you wanted me to talk less about Troy. Okay. I'll stop."

"No, go on, this sounds interesting."

"Troy was. So, it got sort of transferred to me."

"Are naps with Troy any good?"

"I think so. You'd have to ask Sharpay for a second opinion, I'm afraid, as the only other person who's napped with him. And if I know Troy, Ryan will know soon."

"Thought you said Sharpay–"

"Does someone really have to have sex with someone in order to nap? Think that through before you answer." He grabbed a pair of boxers (his) up from the floor and pulled them on, still yawning.

"I guess not."

"Yeah, that's what I thought." He pulled on his pants and shirt, too. JJ sighed and pulled all of his clothes back on.

"I always feel so dirty putting the same clothes back on again."

"Bring some extras next time."

"Don't you feel in the least bit guilty about cheating on Justin?"

"Who said I was cheating on Justin?"

"You…aren't dating him?"

"No! Just…nothing."

"Okay. I have to go find Tia and apologize."

"And if you have a problem with cheating, I'd suggest dumping her, too."

"Ugh! I'm no good at confrontation."

"Yeah, right. In what universe?"

"Oh, shut up."

"Gladly." Chuckie kissed JJ. He could feel JJ smiling into the kiss. As per usual, JJ was a pretty happy guy today, and he was normally smiling. In fact, they were both normally pretty upbeat guys. "Now go dump your girlfriend."

"Fine." Chuckie and JJ walked down from the upstairs rooms, stealthily, and down to the kitchen. As they walked in, Tia slapped JJ upside the head. "I guess I deserved that one."

"You think?" Tia asked.

"Yes, that's why I said it. Sorry."

"Whatever."

"Okay, this relationship is officially dead," JJ remarked. "See you." He walked away with Chuckie to one of the large refrigerators, to extract some water bottles.

"I'm thirsty," Chuckie said in explanation.

"How can that possibly be?" Chuckie shrugged.

"Maybe you're salty."

"Is that a bad thing?" Chuckie shrugged again.

"Better than being gross. Or a girl." JJ nodded vigorously. "You know when we should get together?"

"When?"

"Tomorrow night, out at the pool. Me and the guys are having guys' night, and then we should get together."

"What will they think?"

"Who cares? They'll be gone…" Chuckie laid a very secretive kiss just under JJ's ear, and as he was doing so, he caught Chad's eye and they both grinned.

"What are you grinning about?" JJ asked seeing the grin when their faces leveled out.

"Nothing." JJ looked around and saw Chad seemingly smiling for no good reason.

"Why is Chad grinning?"

"Jeez. Don't flip a shit, he knows. But it's cool. He keeps secrets."

"You're sure?"

"Absotively posilutely."

"Okay then. He's cool. Is there anyone else?" Chuckie looked around. Except for Chad pretending to work, grinning to himself, and Tia pretending to be invisible, the kitchen was empty.

"Nope. Chad, Tia, and Sarah. That's it."

"Okay, then I'm cool."

"I appreciate you whispering for my benefit," Chad said. "I'm cool. Secrets are safe with me. You should know that. But I gotta go. Taylor and I get off at noon. And Troy wanted me to come check on him and Ryan."

"He didn't ask me," Chuckie said, falling slightly from his cloud.

"Which is good. Because you're busy," JJ said quietly, grazing his lips down Chuckie's jawbone.

"Seriously. Why'd he ask you?"

"Well, he just called this morning. He probably couldn't get a hold of you. Where've you been?"

"Um…nowhere."

"Guess," JJ mumbled through his continued small kisses.

"Oh, that's gross," Chad said. "I'm out you guys. Peace." He was gone.

"So, you wanna do something tonight, or wait til tomorrow? Or we could go right now. I hear the members' only locker room is nice. I'm sure I can find a key…"

"And we'll get fired," JJ said. "Although that means more time with you…" In the corner of the kitchen, Tia burst into tears and pushed into the piano room before the boys could notice. "Jesus, I completely forgot she was here. That must hurt pretty badly."

"She'll get over it," Chuckie breathed in JJ's ear, grazing it with his lips.

"Kitchens aren't sexy."

"That's what you think. Where do you think sexual fantasies come from?"

"Warped minds."

"Chocolate sauce, grapes, whipped cream, mm…strawberries…"

"Sorry, I was wrong. I meant hungry minds."

"I like strawberry flavored things too. Like condoms and lube. Ooh…chocolate fondue and bananas. Maybe I am hungry."

"I'd rather you not eat me for lunch. So let's get some eats."

"Mmm…I'd eat you for lunch."

"Not particularly nutritious, I'm sure. I could go for some pizza."

"I could go for some nachos…with the cheese sauce on the side."

"I can imagine where the cheese sauce goes."

"Mm, that'd be yummy."

"Did you and Troy used to fool around with food a lot?"

"…maybe. Whenever the house was empty. I like strawberries…"

"Will you make up your mind?"

"Huh?"

"Nachos or strawberries."

"Strawberry nachos."

"No such thing."

"You clearly underestimate Sharpay's desire to have everything in her life pink."

"Clearly. But we really should eat lunch."

"Fine," Chuckie said, huffily turning back to the fridge. "Pizza?" He didn't wait for an answer before beginning to cook it.

"Chuckie?" JJ asked timidly after a couple minutes.

"What?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Are you mad at me for being hungry?"

"No."

"Are you mad at me for loving you?"

"What? No! I could never. I love you. I'm not mad. Just…sexually interrupted. And that's never gone over well with me. So I'm a little grumpy."

"But we had sex. And you finished. And my ass hurts. It can't be blue balls."

"It's not. I'm just…horny, I guess. It comes with deprivation."

"Well, I've only had sex once."

"That's not enough times to be deprived. At this point you just wanna go again as soon as possible."

"I don't. Well, I wanna have sex with you again as soon as I'm not starving to death."

"Not with anyone offering?" JJ shook his head. "Good."

"Would you have? After your first time?"

"My butt hurt a lot after my first time because my boyfriend was a virgin and had no idea what he was doing. At all. Like, worse than at all. It was bad. I just wanted to fotfad."

"Not as bad as when you did it with Justin."

"This is true. Although that was just not being careful. That made me want to fotfad too. Even worse. I almost did."

"I can't believe I lost my virginity to Chuckie Brown."

"Changing the subject, omg, you loser. And is there something wrong with that?"

"No. But if you'd asked me six months ago, I don't think you'd have been anywhere near the top. I would have told you you were on crack for suggesting it, actually. No offense."

"Thanks. Good to know I reside in a warm spot in your heart."

"You do."

"I know. I'm just teasing the straight kid."

"I hardly think I count as straight anymore."

"You barely were in the first place. But I can still tease."

"You can attempt. With diminished effect of course."

"Shall I roll to see if it works?"

"It doesn't. My +9 coolness blocks your attempt."

"What's the coolness from?"

"My awesome boyfriend."

"Well, I'm impervious to your block. So there." The oven dinged. "Pizza's done. Still hungry?"

"Yes. For pizza. And for you."

"And I still want nachos. But I guess I can behave myself and keep the cheese in its container."

8.15.07

Setting: The next night, a Wednesday. Chapters 16 and 17 of The Board of Secrets, Chapter 24 of Middle School Musical

The next night was guy's night. After it, Chuckie went to go back into the kitchen, but Troy and Ryan caught him up.

"Hey, Chuckster, am I driving you home or what?" Troy asked.

"Uh, no. I brought Sarah's car this morning," Chuckie said, offhandedly.

"Oh, well, sorry, then. Don't be too late, though. I'm sure your parents will be wondering." Chuckie scoffed.

"My parents don't care what I do," he muttered. "Bye Troy." He left through the locker rooms.

"Bye Chuckie. Ry, I'll see you tomorrow. We're telling Gabi, don't forget." Troy sighed, and kissed Ryan good night, then ran out of the club. Ryan continued through to the kitchen where Chuckie was standing conversing in low tones talking to one of his friends.

"Hey, Chuckie," Ryan called across the kitchen. Chuckie looked up, spotted Ryan, eyes bugging out of his head, but then he calmed himself and walked over to him.

"Um, hey, Ryan, what's up?"

"I just wanted to say…well… Okay, I gave the rest of the…well, the guys, honorary club memberships, and I know there's only two weeks left of summer, but…you're my friend too, so I want you to know your name is on the list too."

"Um…thank you, I guess. I mean…wow, thanks."

"Yeah, so you have complete use of club facilities, and Fulton can't bother you. So…you're welcome. And anytime you need a favor, or somebody to talk to, you can come to me."

"Wow. Thanks. This is unbelievable. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome."

"Um…can I use the pool right now, then?"

"Sure, knock yourself out. Even Fulton's gone for the night by now. There shouldn't be anyone around. Is that your boyfriend you got over there?"

"…I'm not at liberty to discuss that information."

"Okay. Whatever. I'll probably forget by tomorrow morning anyway. Have fun." Ryan winked and left the kitchen. JJ burst into laughter.

"'I'm not at liberty to discuss that information'? Can you get any lamer?" he asked.

"Hey," Chuckie replied. "We're a secret. And I don't want him to know, because then Troy would find out. And we don't want anybody to find out, do we?"

"No, we don't," JJ breathed. "So, we're using the pool?"

"Better. We're desecrating the pool."

"How?"

"In the same way we desecrated Ryan's bedroom." JJ chuckled.

"Like that. I see. I could go for desecrating the pool. And maybe the deck of the pool, and the locker room showers…"

"Feisty. I like that. Let's go."

"Oh, wait, I don't have swimming trunks."

"Why do you need any?"

"That's a good point." They both looked at each other as if the same idea had hit both of them, and they raced out to the pool. Chuckie stripped off his shirt again as they ran and did a running flip into the pool. JJ stared at him from the edge.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Get in here."

"I'm…still wearing clothes."

"And that's a serious problem. C'mon, strip and get in the pool." JJ rolled his eyes.

"But…there's no good music to strip to, Chucks. You know I can't strip without good music."

"I don't know that that's a thing that I know. But I can solve the problem. I've seen Ryan do this a million times. Hold on." Chuckie was grinning. "Excuse me, Pool? Can we have some, um, good stripping music?" The pool speakers began emitting SexyBack by Justin Timberlake.

"Whoa," JJ said, astonished. "How did you do that?" Chuckie shrugged.

"C'mon, man, no one's around. Take your clothes off."

I'm bringing sexy back, yep
Them other boys don't know how to act, yep

JJ rolled his eyes yet another time, and began slowly taking his clothes off to the rhythm of the music. He had only managed to throw his sweatshirt and t-shirt off by the end of the song, and Fergalicious by Fergie started playing.

"Well, I didn't know this was a stripping song," Chuckie commented, still watching his boyfriend, but he was now sitting on the edge of the pool. "Sharpay has weird playlists."

"Why would she strip?"

"That's true. Ryan has weird playlists."

Fergalicious definition, make them boys go loco

They want my treasures so they get their pleasures from my photo

You can see me, You can't squeeze me,

I ain't easy, I ain't sleazy, I got reasons why I tease em

Boys just come and go like seasons

Fergalicious

"I disagree with Fergie. I think you are easy." JJ's shoe came flying at Chuckie, but luckily he caught it, saving it from falling in the pool, and tossed it onto a chaise. "It's true, and don't you try and deny it." The other shoe came flying past Chuckie's head before bouncing on the deck. "Well?" JJ scowled. "There's the sexy look we're looking for. Wonderful. Work it, babe." JJ smiled again in spite of himself and worked on undoing his belt, which eventually got thrown in the same pile as his shirts. The song changed yet again, this time to Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-a-lot.

I like big butts and I cannot lie
You other brother can't deny
That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face you get

Sprung!

"Oh, man, I love this song," Chuckie commented, standing up from his sitting and joining JJ on the deck, dancing with him, and grinding against him, like any couple would.

"Um, what are you doing?"

"I'm helping. Why? Is it too weird?"

"…I don't know. Is someone gonna see us?"

"No. No one's here but Ryan and Sharpay. And their rooms are on the other side of the facility. Well, and Mr. and Mrs. Evans, but they're long since asleep. C'mon." Chuckie's hands slipped down to JJ's waistband and undid the button of his jeans. "You are okay with this, right?"

"Yeah. Yeah, of course. I just don't want to be tomorrow's morning gossip."

"Trust me, we won't be. It's the one thing I can promise from tonight. Well, that and…the other stuff I can promise." He winked and licked his lips in that way he did sometimes, making JJ laugh in spite of the mood. Chuckie slipped his hands inside JJ's pants and pulled them down from the inside, moving his eyebrows around as well. JJ backed off several feet, kicked his pants off, and then he was standing next to the pool in his boxers. "Sexy."

"Really?"

"No. Get in the pool." JJ saluted and cannonballed into the pool.

"Whoa. You never mentioned how warm it was."

"It's a pool. What did you expect?"

"I don't know." In the background, the stereo switched to Hot in Herre by Nelly. Chuckie recannonballed back into the pool and joined his boyfriend. "What now?"

"See that waterfall?" JJ turned to look at the previously unnoticed waterfall.

"Yeah."

"There's a bench in there. And we're gonna do it on it." Pause. "If that's okay with you."

"Fine by me."

"Good deal." Chuckie did a forward roll in the water, pulling JJ underneath with him. Together they swam under the water to the cave behind the waterfall.

"How do you do that?" JJ asked, incredulously. He had somehow lost his boxers on the way over.

"Oh, but they were so ugly anyway, you can't possibly miss them, could you?"

"Not really." Chuckie stared at JJ, and then leaned in to kiss his boyfriend. Things started to heat up, and a song called Issues by Mindless Self Indulgence played.

"Now that's what I'm talking about," Chuckie muttered through kisses. By the time they were finished a second song by Mindless Self Indulgence, Shut Me Up, had played, and I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred was playing.

"Man, do I hate this song," JJ said, sighing contentedly.

"But, Jayze, you are too sexy for your shirt. I promise."

"It's true. It's just a dumb song. Reminds me of Snape." Chuckie disregarded this awkward remark.

"No talking. Let me bask in my glow." There was silence but for the contented sighs and deep breaths from the two teenage boys, the water falling from the fall, and Right Said Fred. "Excuse me, Mr. Pool, but could you play some basking music?" Born to Make You Happy by Britney Spears came on. "Good enough." Chuckie went back to basking. Several minutes passed, and Blessed by Christina Aguilera played.

"Um, Chucks, where did you put my boxers?" JJ asked timidly. He was done basking, and would like to get redressed. The fact that he was naked in the pool of a country club he worked at had just hit him.

"They're on the deck with your pants. They might be dry by now," Chuckie said, absently. JJ disentangled himself from his boyfriend and swam to the edge of the pool, before climbing out and lurching for a towel, then wrapping it around his waist. "Hey, where'd you go?"

"I'm out here," JJ replied, sitting in a chaise. "It's a warm night. D'you think anyone would notice if we just slept out here?"

"Probably not. Fulton would when he got here tomorrow. We'd probably get fired," Chuckie said as he swam to the edge, climbed out, then wrapped a towel around his own waist and collapsed into a chaise of his own. "My parents don't give a rat's ass what I do. So long as I'm not out getting pregnant. That's just what they need, another pregnant child."

"You're a dude. I hope."

"I know. It was supposed to be a joke but it died somewhere in there. Anyway, all they care about these days is Sarah."

"My parents don't care about anything. Even each other."

"So they're still separated?"

"Yeah. But Mom hasn't been home for, like, a week. She's staying at Dad's. It's so weird. And Jake's there, of course."

"No offense, I hate your brother."

"I hate him too. But…how can you hate him? We're identical."

"You guys are twins?"

"Yeah! Hello? Why doesn't anyone know that?"

"Maybe because he doesn't go to our school and no one likes him that much."

"Perhaps. But anyway, one of these days, they're just going to have to settle their differences in a different way."

"Wish my parents would."

"Why, what are they doing?"

"Well, mostly the reason that I'm avoiding them at all costs is that they're having the same damn fight they've had every year since I can remember about the holidays. This year, I swear I'm just seceding from the family and staying somewhere else for the holidays."

"You can stay at my house if you want. There's never anybody there but me."

"Doesn't it get lonely living by yourself?"

"Not really. I can do whatever I want whenever I want, no bedtimes, no one telling me to brush my teeth, no one telling me I can't eat all the ice cream, it's great."

"You're Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone."

"Yeah. But I don't stay up until 3am, and I don't eat all the ice cream, and I do brush my teeth. I can take care of myself. I mean, I'm seventeen, you know?"

"Yeah. But if you ever need to, you know, have human contact, you can stay at my house. Or I can come over there."

"I know. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

8.16.07

Setting: The Next morning, a Thursday. Chapter 17 of The Board of Secrets, Chapter 24 of Middle School Musical

"Where were you last night?" Troy asked Chuckie the next morning, as he drove him to work. "You didn't get back until, like, 3am."

"I thought you weren't spying on me anymore."

"I'm not. But I was worried about you last night. I thought you'd be right home. What were you doing until 3 in the morning?"

"That is absolutely none of your business."

"Just tell me one thing."

"What?"

"Is he cute?"

"What?"

"The guy you're seeing. Since you won't tell me who he is, or what he does, or anything besides he's not Justin, just tell me if he's cute."

"He's gorgeous." Troy blinked at Chuckie. "But not as gorgeous as you, obviously."

"What's so special about him?"

"I don't know, exactly. But…I love him. I really do." Troy blinked again.

"Wow."

"What?"

"I've never heard you say those words before. And now they're not even about me."

"Do you want them to be?"

"No. I'm relieved they're not. I'm with Ryan. I just…used to feel bad, because I knew…well, I thought I knew that you were…you know…with me, and I just used to kick myself for…everything we did because I knew it meant so much more to you than it ever did to me. I want to use the word 'using' but that's not right, because you know I care about you, right?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I know. You…don't feel bad, okay? Everything was my idea. And I knew about Ryan, so don't blame this on yourself. Plus everything worked out for the best, right? You have Ryan, and I have…my new boyfriend, and neither one of us has hard feelings, right?"

"I don't."

"Good. Me neither. And I knew we were never going to end up together. I said being with you would help me get over my crush. And it did. I am over it. I can proudly say that."

"Okay, quick cooking question. If you're cooking on the stove, is this new secret boyfriend the one?"

"The one?"

"Yeah. Like me and Ryan."

"Oh, the One. Yeah, yeah, I'd say he is."

"So, when can I meet him? Or at least know who he is?"

"As soon as he's ready to brave the dangers of the forest outside the closet."

"Those are scary forests."

"Tell me about it. I had to go through it on my own. When I was eleven. At least you had my help. And he has my help."

"So, you turned him too? Who're you dating, Chad?"

"No. Not Chad. And you'll be lucky if I decide not to tell Chad you said that."

"Dude. Don't do that. He'd kill me."

"Exactly. But, yes, I turned him. He…well, he still likes girls, but I don't care. I never cared you liked girls."

"Yeah, but I'm bi more towards men."

"He is bi more towards women," Chuckie said, frowning.

"Yeah, but if it doesn't matter to you, it shouldn't matter at all. If he loves you too, then that's all that matters."

"Good point."

"And something tells me this guy is different. What were you guys doing until 3am?"

"Well…we were hanging out. At the pool. Desecrating it. For fun. And just FYI, Gabriella's lifeguard chair? Not so clean anymore."

"Oh, man. I'm gonna have to tell her that, now."

"Why? She's evil. You don't have to tell her a thing."

"Yeah, but I should, because she was my girlfriend, and I dumped her, so I owe her. Ew. That's so gross. What else have you desecrated?"

"Nothing," Chuckie said, innocently. "Really. Especially not Ryan's bed at the club." This took a moment to sink in.

"You did what?"

"Nothing. Really."

"Okay, but I'm on to you." Several moments passed in silence. "Did you really?" Chuckie started giggling uncontrollably.

"We did."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to. And I would have done it on Sharpay's, but I'm afraid she would kill me if she ever found out. Don't worry. We had the entire thing cleaned when we were finished. I'm buddies with the maids."

"When did you even find a time when he wasn't around?"

"When you guys were at the mall."

"The… Oh, man." Pause. "Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew!"

"Oh, come on! It's not so weird."

"It's weird. And it's gross. I lay in that bed, you know."

"Yeah, but you don't do anything else."

"I would if he let me."

"Somebody's sexually frustrated."

"Must be you."

"It's not me, man, I had sex, like, six times last night."

"Only six?"

"Yeah. J– My new boyfriend is…kind of new if you know what I mean, and he wanted to go a lot, but he could only manage six."

"But our record is–"

"Eight? Yeah, I know. That's because we're the best."

"Infinitely superior. Someday Ryan and I will beat that."

"Well, then, me and my new boyfriend will have to top that new record."

"And then me and Ryan will top that."

"You're on."

"Oh, it's on like Donkey Kong."

"Who says that?"

"I don't know."

8.18.07

Setting: Saturday Morning, Chapter 17 of The Board of Secrets, Chapter 24 of Middle School Musical

"So, JJ, what are we doing tonight?" Chuckie asked. It was Saturday morning, and JJ was driving them to work. "There's a party at the Evans' Mansion, if you wanna go, you know."

"Mom is picking me up and taking me to Dad's. Told her I had to work, and I don't wanna go, but she says I'll be back for Monday morning."

"Why do you have to go to your dad's?"

"Evidently I don't spend enough time with the rest of the family."

"Well…we can invent a Sarah emergency if you don't wanna go."

"Nah, I should probably go."

"It seems like we never do anything together." JJ laughed.

"Chuckie, we do everything together. Just go without me. You'll have a lot of fun. Besides, you like that kind of stuff. Parties and drinking. It's just not my scene."

"It's not even really my scene. It was Sarah's scene, and I went to look after her, until I realized she didn't need looking after. She's a good kid."

"Yeah. She is."

"Huh."

"What?"

"Nothing. That's interesting."

"What's interesting?"

"Usually you'd make some kind of speech about Sarah. It's different."

"Usually I'm not dating you."

"I know, but it's different."

"I can…make up a speech if you want."

"No, I'm not saying I want you to. I kind of like it."

"You are my boyfriend. For all of the last, what is it now, five days?"

"I think so, yeah."

"And it's been a great five days."

"And we've probably had five weeks worth of sex."

"That we have. Too bad we didn't get together before the baseball game, we could have had sex then too." Chuckie frowned.

"I think Chad and Taylor were doing it then. Pretty sure, actually."

"Okay, then, maybe not."

"Yeah. That's too weird, even for me. So, really, no on the party?"

"Yeah, sorry. I have to. It's my parents. And maybe, just maybe, I can knock some sense into their heads and either get them to get divorced or get back together. I mean, I love my parents, but they need to just pick one and stick with it."

"I know what you mean, man. I feel like my parents stay together for Sarah and me."

"Where is your dad, lately, anyway? I haven't seen him in, like, a month."

"He's in court."

"Court?"

"Yeah, doing his job. He's a lawyer."

"Oh. I think I used to know that."

"I think you did."

"It's not that I don't want to go to the party, but that last one I went to…didn't turn out so well."

"Well, if you were coming I could make you keep your hands to yourself. I have that kind of control. Over you. And myself."

"You do not, you terrible liar. You couldn't even go that week at basketball camp." Chuckie cringed.

"It was close. I almost did it. Then…things went wrong. And I said I was sorry. I'm still sorry. I really thought I could do it. And I could've, but…that Justin is one slippery little bugger. And telling Chad I didn't need his help was probably a bad decision. And in my defense I tried not to enjoy it. It was hard." (LOL, that's what she said.)

"This is probably the wrong thing to bring up, but what exactly happened?"

"I didn't lose my pants at all if that's what you're thinking."

"You just really love giving head, don't you?" Chuckie raised his eyebrows twice and licked his lips.

"You betcha."

"So your problem is that you're too generous."

"…yes, that is the problem. Is it going to be a problem in our relationship?"

"Not in our relationship. I'm ready to believe you're a one man guy."

"This is a relationship. I never cheated on you before."

"I know. And I appreciate that."

"I'm not a cheater. Just…promiscuous when single. Which I am not."

"I know. I'm not trying to call you names. I know you're a good kid. And I love you, which means I should believe you, and I do."

"Because you're supposed to, or because you actually do?"

"Because I do! I really, really do. And, honestly, who in the heck would you cheat with? Troy's with Ryan, and I don't think you want to do the Justin thing again, so I mean–"

"So what you're saying is the only reason I don't cheat is because I don't have anyone to cheat with?"

"…um…what I meant was…"

"Stop the car, stop the car right now. I will walk the rest of the way to work."

"We're in the parking lot."

"Good." Chuckie unbuckled his seat belt, grabbed his bag, and was out of the car walking towards the club entrance before another word could be said.

"Oh, shit," JJ said to himself, banging his head on his steering wheel. "Sarah is going to hate me forever, isn't she?" The car didn't respond.

"Sarah, if JJ calls you, don't be mean to him, even though he deserves it," Chuckie instructed his sister as soon as he got into the club.

"Why? What happened? Did you break up already?" Sarah asked, moving with difficulty from her desk chair to her bed. "It'd be a downright shame, you know."

"I happen to love my boyfriend, thank you very much, but he accused me of being…unfaithful. Well, not exactly, but he was hinting that I couldn't stay committed."

"I thought you proved that you couldn't."

"I can! Look, that is none of your business, but I know when he has problems, you're the first one he calls. So, don't be mean to him. I don't want him to get pissy and dump me."

"Would that be because he's really good in bed?"

"No! Well, I mean, he is, but that's not the reason! I fell in love with him before I ever knew he was good in bed."

"Oddly enough, same thing happened with Troy."

"Troy is also good in bed."

"Better than JJ?"

"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to divulge that information. You'll just have to bed them both and find out."

"…I'll pass. Sleeping with them after you have just seems like…more gross than an accomplishment, and I– Oh, that's JJ on the other line. I'll talk to you later?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever. I'll probably go right from work to the party, so, I probably won't see you until tomorrow."

"Mmkay. Bye Chuckie." She hung up. Chuckie sighed deeply, and unfortunately for him, Ryan had heard him.

"Everything okay?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Everything's fine. I'm just…all over the place, sorry."

"I don't mind. Just checking. If I let you kill yourself, Troy would probably kill me in retaliation. And I know that you wouldn't mind, but I really would. So…don't hurt yourself, okay? And I mean that in the most serious kind of way possible."

"Yeah. Yeah, okay. I won't. I wasn't going to anyway, but thanks for the warning."

"Just take it from someone who's been there, there's really nothing worth harming yourself over. Everything can be worked out."

"I know. My…yeah, I know. Thanks. I wish I had something helpful to say to you, but you don't appear to have a problem."

"If I ever have one, I'll come to you, and you can try and think of something helpful to say, how's that?"

"That's fair. And, just for the record, you don't…not like me, right?"

"I like you okay. As a person. As Troy's ex-boyfriend, it's a little intimidating, yeah. Because you're still such great friends somehow, not because you're an intimidating person."

"I know. And I don't not like you either. As Troy's current boyfriend, you would be a little annoying, if I was still after him, which I'm not. I mean, I don't know if he told you, but I'm the one who broke up with him. And…I talk too much, so just shut me up any time, you know."

"No, he didn't tell me that. It's good to know. So…how's your boyfriend?"

"…I don't know."

"That's why you're upset, huh?"

"Sort of."

"Troy says he's gorgeous."

"He told you?"

"He tells me everything. Can't get him to shut up. I can tell when he's working himself up to tell me something important, because he babbles about you for, like, ten minutes, and then he starts taking an hour and half to finish a sentence. A little annoying. I should see if I can get him to stop it."

"He babbles about me?"

"Yeah. He'll just start running his mouth telling me some story I couldn't care less about from when you went somewhere or did something and what happened, or maybe a funny thing that Chad said when you were there."

"Funny. Well, I'm gonna be late for work, so I better go. Not like I'm trying to get rid of you or something."'

"Yeah, yeah. You better get to work. I'm gonna be out at the pool all day. Anything I should know about it?"

"Did he tell you that too?"

"Yeah. I don't care, really. You're not the first people to desecrate my pool."

"You?"

"No. Not me. Chad and Taylor. I think Jason and Kelsi, too, although I haven't actually gotten that out of her. I just have the whole thing disinfected and blow it off. It's a pool. That's pretty much what it's for. And then, of course, I won't even go near the Jacuzzi anymore, because of what Zeke and Sharpay were doing in there."

"What?"

"I don't even know. Go to work, you…silly goose."

"Did you just call me a silly goose?"

"Yeah, and it was lame. So forget I said it and go clock in before you get in trouble. Go." Chuckie blinked, taking a moment to let it sink in, and then made for the kitchen.

"Bye, Ryan, thanks for the talk," he called over his shoulder.

"Bye," Ryan called after him. He walked out to the pool, where Sharpay was sitting on top of Zeke who was sitting on a chaise. They were making out. Ryan cleared his throat. Sharpay looked up and immediately unhooked herself from her boyfriend.

"As I was saying, have fun at work today, Zeke," Sharpay said, smiling at Zeke, and sliding off of him. He stood up, and she winked at him, before he left. "That was, um…"

"So, I take it you've finally decided to allow him to be your boyfriend?"

"Well, yeah. I figured since Troy was…dating you, he's kind of unavailable."

"Dost mine ears deceive me? Is Sharpay Evans actually giving up on Troy Bolton? This is breaking news."

"Shut up. As hard as it is for me to accept, he should be with you. I mean, he's the best thing that's ever happened to you. You know it, I know it, mom and dad know it, and I mean, he seems really serious about this. Like when I first heard, I thought it was some kind of seriously cruel joke, so I talked to him and threatened to kick his ass if it was, but I don't think it is. I know him, he's my best friend, and I know when he's full of shit, and he's really serious about you."

"Um…thank you."

"And you've been…you know, happier, the last week, and you've been…good."

"Yeah. I know. He makes me happy."

"But so help me God, if he ever breaks your heart I will break his face."

"Good to know."

"Tell me if you feel like you need to…you know what, again."

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'm good. I think I'm gonna be good forever."

"That's good. I like your confidence."

A/N: I can't even remember the last time I updated this. Don't own and such. -Samantha