"Ryan, can we talk?" Trevor asked. He had been waiting outside the locker room for Ryan who had walked out with the guys. "Sorry for shouting earlier."
"I guess I deserved it." Ryan said weakly.
"I'm just worried." Trevor smiled. Troy and Chad who were walking with them exchanged looks.
"I...erm..." Ryan chewed on his lip.
"You what?" Trevor asked.
"I'm joining the baseball team." Ryan blurted. Chad grinned next to him.
"You're what?" Trevor laughed. "Like you do sports. You're like the gayest person I know."
"Oh because you're so straight." Ryan said back, Trevor just laughed.
"Don't be thick Ryan." Trevor was still laughing. "I doubt they'd want a fag on the team."
"A fag?" Ryan stared at Trevor with hatred in his eyes. He hated that word.
"Well yeah." Trevor smiled. "Just forget about joining the baseball team, come on we said we'd meet Billie."
"No." Ryan said defiantly.
"Excuse me?" Trevor said loudly as Sharpay and the girls walked towards them.
"I said no. I'm through with this." Ryan signalled to the two of them.
"You can't be." Trevor laughed. "You need me."
"No I need a reality check." Ryan sighed running his hand through his hair.
"I know what you need baby, you're just grouchy because you haven't had any all day, come on..." Ryan hesitated but Chad had placed a hand on his shoulder.
"No." Ryan repeated.
"You don't say no to me." Trevor shouted.
"He just did why don't you back off." Ryan was stunned that Danny captain of the baseball team had spoken up behind him.
"This isn't over, give it a week you'll be crawling back to me." Trevor said evilly.
"Maybe I'd just crawl back into bed with Billie." Ryan spat back.
"You fucked Billie?" Trevor screamed. "You fucking whore." Ryan didn't know what had happened, Trevor had lashed out and punch him full on in the face and he had fallen back, he knew he would have fallen to the floor if Chad and Troy hadn't been directly behind him.
"Get the fuck away from him now!" Danny screamed as he and a few other members of the baseball team advanced on him, Trevor glared at them and walked off. "Are you okay Evans?"
"Mm...pain." Ryan whined as he held his face in his hand. "Ouch."
"Look as of tonight your on the baseball team." Danny smiled at him. "But sort everything out yeah. We look out for our own so don't worry about him."
"Thanks, I think." Ryan mumbled. Danny smiled nodded at Chad and Troy and then walked away.
"Ryan!" Sharpay screeched and moved over to him. "Oh god. Has any one got any ice?"
"Because people carry ice around with them." Ryan smiled. "I'm fine."
"It's going blue!" Sharpay said dramatically.
"Least it will match the colour of my eyes." Ryan smiled.
"Are you okay?" Gabriella asked.
"I...yeah...I need to go and find Billie." Ryan said.
"What why?" Sharpay asked. "I thought you were through with that."
"I just sort of need to apologise to him." Ryan sighed.
"We'll come with you." Chad smiled. Ryan just shrugged and they all made their way to the field area.
"Ryan!" Billie saw him immediately. "I'm so sorry."
"I was going to say the same." Ryan smiled.
"Trevor just went ape shit." Billie sighed, he smiled over at the girls and nodded at the boys. The first thing they all noticed was that Billie wasn't high, didn't look as if he had been high all day or at all.
"I sort of told him."
"I know, Joe told me. I'm sorry I feel like it's my fault." Billie sighed.
"I was stupid." Ryan said. "I've made a lot of mistakes."
"Sleeping with me was a mistake?" Billie asked a little hurt.
"No, it was fun and oddly comforting, but it shouldn't have happened."
"I know..." Billie smiled at him. "So you going to be okay?"
"I'm going to try." Ryan said.
"So I heard you joined the baseball team." Billie laughed.
"Why do people automatically laugh when they say that?" Ryan asked pouting. Billie just grinned.
"Good luck, we're still good though me and you."
"Course." Ryan smiled. "See you around."
"Yeah see you around Ry." Billie smiled at them all and they headed away.
"So I like him you should get with him." Sharpay smiled. "He's way cuter then Trevor."
"He's sweet." Ryan agreed. "But right now I need to do something." He sighed. "Gabs... can I erm...can I talk to you?"
"Sure thing Ry." Gabriella smiled, she held out her arm and he took it hesitantly and they made their way to a bench.
"I know I have a lot of apologising to do." Ryan started, Gabriella smiled and nodded her head. "I'm starting with you."
"You don't have to."
"I do. You were my first friend ever!" Ryan laughed. "And I was horrible to you. I don't remember what I said, and I know it's selfish but I don't want to know. I just want you to know that I didn't mean anything I said to you. Please forgive me?"
"You're already forgiven." Gabriella smiled. Ryan grinned and hugged her tightly. "But I am going to continue to tutor you."
"Thanks. I really want to graduate." Ryan grinned.
"I know you want to have a fresh plate and apologise and start anew but it's not going to be easy."
"You don't think they'd take me back into the group?"
"Ry, you never left not in our hearts." She smiled. "But look honestly, you've been high for over a month. And today you were a little grouchy, you're going to be like that for a while and it's going to be hard."
"I know." Ryan sighed.
"But we're all going to help you." Gabriella smiled.
"Thank you." Ryan smiled.
